Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen has put some context on a report that shows the city had a 16 per cent increase in operating spending from 2008 to 2015. The data was put together by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Goertzen says the numbers are skewed because they include money that was used to partner with the province on improvements to Highway #12 North and money contributed toward the expansion of personal care home beds at Rest Haven.

"We all know that we want to see a more efficient highway, a safer highway and so council made some very strategic decisions on investing in provincial infrastructure. We also know that we want to see additional beds for personal care homes for our seniors and so we've made a strategic investment in that. So that does get reflected in those high numbers for those certain years but it also is a real value to our city and to our citizens."

In 2015, Steinbach spent $1,223 per capita on operating spending. That is third-lowest among Manitoba cities, just behind Winkler at $1,082 and Morden at $1,126. It is also significantly lower than cities like Portage la Prairie and Brandon where the number is well over $1,500 per capita. Flin Flon is the highest at $2,579 per capita.

Goertzen says city council is very mindful of its spending.

"When it comes to dollars spent on operating, we know that our staff is very efficient. We know that as a growing city, that there are costs that are involved with that. But we are very pleased with the work that our staff does and the work that goes on in our city for the dollars that are not high compared to many other communities in Manitoba."