Quote:
Originally Posted by bizaro86
I could spend 500k on a townhouse in Sunnyside and pay the same property taxes as I pay on my larger house in Hawkwood. I'd use the same amount of city services (trash, water/sewer, etc) that I do now. I'd probably use roads/transit less, which would have a capital and maintenance savings. I'd use services like pedestrian bridges over the river and outdoor pools more. Services that are only provided to inner city residents, and a few older communities that were previously independent. (Bowness/Forest Lawn).
I don't object to developers paying for new development. But I do question where the line is. Is there any level of development levy where the condescension would stop?
Some other services are also provided in a more efficient manner to newer neighbourhoods. For example, Hawkwood Elementary opened in 1993 and serves 429 students. Sunnyside school was built in 1919 and serves 148 students. Does anyone believe it's more efficient to educate children in very small, very old schools? They will naturally have higher administration and operating costs. So my property tax bill is subsidizing inefficient educational delivery for the inner city.
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You will use more water (lawns) and it will cost much more money to pump it to your house, and then drain it back for water treatment. You will generate more trash to buy materials for your larger house and your larger yard. Also, the garbage trucks will have to drive much further to your house to get your garbage, costing both time and money and likely requiring extra vehicles.
Also the funding collected by Sunnyside residents for education (there is a dedicated mill rate for this), will dwarf the amount of money actually spent on education in the community by several factors. (The taxes raised per student in the community is likely several factors greater than Hawkwood).
I've also heard that there is a waiting list for the Sunnyside school. Perhaps if the education system wasn't hemorrhaging money, it could spare some funds for expansion in the inner city?