Winnipeg expecting larger budget surplus of $8.7M for 2017

• Winnipeg still heading for modest year-end surplus

The change is due in part to a $2.7-millionincrease in projected tax revenue flowing to the city as a result of new developments opening up, city controller Paul Olafson wrote in a report to council's finance committee.

"This increase was due to the completion of complex subdivisions and related assessment and taxation transactions in 2017 instead of 2018 as initially expected," Olafsonwrote.

Winnipeg Transit alsoreported an improvement infare revenues and additional cost savings during the latter partof 2017, eliminating the need for a transfer of cash to the service, Olafson wrote.

The final surplus figure for 2017 will be known in February.

Winnipeg's total budget in 2017 was $1.08billion, which places a surplus of less than $10 million within an accounting margin of error.