June 1, 2004

City Council 2004 - A Report Card

At the outset it must be emphasized that the Hurst administration left us with a mountain of debt and administrative chaos. Mayor Francis and his council have inherited a daunting task in cleaning up a gigantic mess. What can be said of their efforts six months into their mandate? The report card is easy to produce. Effort – A/Plus. Results – A/Minus.

We are informed that by 2006 there will be an accumulated debt of 270 million dollars. Still, council members cannot summon the will to deal decisively with this crisis. Instead, nothing has really changed and the result has been the imposition of a totally unwarranted and excessive tax increase on the majority of taxpayers. This, after (MPAC) increased property assessments, in what can only be described as a base for an ever-increasing tax grab. The impact on seniors with a fixed income trying to live out their later years in the comfort of their own home is a disgrace. The same negativity applies to small business owners. Municipal costs are too high in comparison with the private sector, an anomaly that needs to be addressed. It also brands this city as a high tax centre with unacceptable debt, excessive service costs and a sub-standard infrastructure. Not particularly inviting to prospective newcomers.

For many years this writer has advocated the disposal of all city operated commercial enterprises that use tax dollars to directly compete with taxpaying business owners. The sale of these enterprises would enable capital funds to be recovered and returned to the treasury. A far less draconian method of tackling debt repayment.

Now is the time to insist that users of all non-essential services pay the full freight. User fees must be sufficient to produce a realistic return on capital and a sinking fund for future refurbishment. Any public non-essential service that is in constant deficit must be eliminated. An example is the ill-conceived Water World that costs taxpayers approximately 400,000 dollars annually. Those who do not play golf, do not own a boat, do not play tennis, do not have children in organized sport and do not use the community centers, should not have their tax dollars subsidizing any of these non-essential services. Services that are the result of long term pandering to many special interest groups. Groups that loudly proclaim their “public spirit” that loosely translated means a continuing orgy of self-indulgence. Grants and subsidies of any description must be eliminated. Crisis time needs crisis solutions.

This new council has the mandate to be bold, but so far, despite all protestations to the contrary they have traveled the path of least resistance. Now is the time to show us that they are willing to take the high road, concentrate on essential services and eliminate the many sacred cows that are rife in the disposition of our hard earned tax dollars.

Al Nelman