The City of Steinbach, Manitoba, is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to discuss its proposed budget for the coming year. The meeting will start at 7:35 p.m. at City Hall and gives residents a final opportunity to share their thoughts on city spending and local tax rates before the 2026 financial plan is officially approved.
The budget outlines the city’s infrastructure priorities, including an estimated $18.2 million planned for infrastructure renewal and equipment replacement. One notable project on the 2026 agenda is the wastewater sewer renewal on Millwork Drive. While the city has faced budget overruns on previous operations projects, such as a building expansion in 2024, recent tenders for the 2026 program—including the Millwork Drive renewal—have reportedly come in hundreds of thousands of dollars under their original estimates.
City leaders are also focusing on emergency preparedness and community safety. Steinbach currently maintains an Emergency Operations Centre team of 16 people who are trained to implement the city’s emergency plan during events that are too large for standard police or fire services to handle alone, such as severe weather or hazardous materials incidents.
The city’s emergency readiness is currently overseen by coordinator Randy Reimer, who has managed the program since 2024. Efforts to modernize the department have included technology upgrades such as the acquisition of 14 laptops for the emergency team, which allow staff to stay connected and share information quickly during major local emergencies.
Residents may also seek information on the city’s new Community Safety and Well-being Plan, which was recently finalized with assistance from the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities. This public hearing is the final step for residents to provide feedback directly to the City Council before the 2026 financial roadmap is finalized.
