Bronconnier gets a tongue-lashing

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Duerr had no tax increases for four straight years in Calgary, and at that time, had next to no infrastructure expansion or large increase of services.

Here I thought infrastructure came out of the Capital budget and has no impact on tax rates?

Or is that just a convenient excuse to justify the bridges?

[Slava]

I'm not looking forward to a huge tax hike...but I am wondering where cuts can be made? No one seems to have any real answers...

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by fotze

REally? FATA!. I forgot about Enmax, when they say CHeapest taxes in Canada do other City's have a private utility like that to collect some of the taxes?

http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/citybea...170004_27299_0

Investments in front line services are essential
and should not be sacrificed during City Council’s budget
deliberations next week however there are sustainable ways to
help ease the property tax burden on Calgarians. Today Mayor
Dave Bronconnier and Alderman Gord Lowe offered
recommendations to be considered by City Council during next
week’s (Nov. 17 – 21) budget deliberations which would
significantly decrease proposed property tax increases, while
at the same time, would protect budgeted investments in the
protective services, transportation and environmental
protection.

....

Under the proposal offered by Bronconnier and Lowe,
residential property tax increases would drop to 6.8% in
2009, 6.2% in 2010 and 6.5% in 2011, from 9.6%, 6.8% and 6.9%
respectively.

....

The plan calls for an amendment to The City’s ENMAX dividend
policy, increasing the amount directed to general revenues by
$8 Million annually to $43 Million. It also recognizes that
the Province of Alberta has announced it will assume
responsibility for EMS service on April 1, 2009. Municipal
funding for EMS will be in budgeted for the first quarter of
2009. There will be no risk of service disruption during the
transition of EMS, as the Fiscal Sustainability Reserve Fund
will act as a “backstop” for any unforeseen budgetary
implications.

So... They'll demand an extra $35 million from Enmax, which means less Green spending or however they want to spend that money, and they'll stop budgeting money for EMS that they never would have had to pay for anyway.

That's it??? Great offer

[Slava]

^ Right, or instead of just lining up to vote the budget down (or whatever complaining they are doing here) why not actually propose some solutions?

There is nothing more frustrating than political pandering and that is what this is, at its finest. They have the power to do something about it, except that rather than propose solutions or meaningful areas to trim they just say "we shouldn't raise taxes".

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ Right, or instead of just lining up to vote the budget down (or whatever complaining they are doing here) why not actually propose some solutions?

There is nothing more frustrating than political pandering and that is what this is, at its finest. They have the power to do something about it, except that rather than propose solutions or meaningful areas to trim they just say "we shouldn't raise taxes".

I like the move of sending it back to Administration and have them do some of this 'look for savings' work. If they don't come up with anything, then City Council should look over it with a fine toothed comb. Put some of the accountability back on the people who come up with the budget to start with.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Slava

I'm not looking forward to a huge tax hike...but I am wondering where cuts can be made? No one seems to have any real answers...

They had some chick on QR last week from some organization that I can't remember. She was saying that where they really need to trim the fat is in city hall itself. According to her, the City of Calgary is the biggest employer in the city of Calgary. I can't really remember all that she said, but her opinion was that there were alot of frivolous jobs with expensive employees. Not aldermen or road clearers, but people in the offices doing tasks that were redundant.
I have no idea whether this is true or not. Doesn't OzyFlame work for the city? What say you, Ozy?

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by calculoso

They aren't backing off on it at all... they're just demanding more money from Enmax instead of getting it from Taxpayers -- who just happen to buy electricity and water and sewer and such from Enmax.

Don't be fooled. Nothing was cut.

Exactly. Bronco's shell game continues.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I feel sorry for Bronco, Council, and the CMO. They're in a difficult situation - everyone wants a well-serviced city - efficient roads, better transit, more policemen, clean parks and streets, and yet no one wants to pay an extra dime for it beyond what inflation demands.

Don't feel sorry for them. Every politician faces more demands then they have time and budget. Those with a spine and sense of responsibility make decisions.

[Canuck-Hater]

that project has no impact on people's taxes.

I call bs on that. Did this money just fall out of the sky?

Good on Ken. Just a case of greed and local politics.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

^^ the capital and operating budgets are seperate.

Of course, Bronco never mentioned this for the last 5 or 10 years of tax hikes when it was more convienient to let people think he was spending on roads.

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Next election, if he runs go with Alderman Joe Connelly. Anybody but Dave.

I think Ric McIver would do a great job as well.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Canuck-Hater

I call bs on that. Did this money just fall out of the sky?

press_kit_2009_2011_financial_fast_facts.pdf

Shows where the revenue comes from.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by Slava

^ Right, or instead of just lining up to vote the budget down (or whatever complaining they are doing here) why not actually propose some solutions?

There is nothing more frustrating than political pandering and that is what this is, at its finest. They have the power to do something about it, except that rather than propose solutions or meaningful areas to trim they just say "we shouldn't raise taxes".

Why that's Ric McIver's bread and butter, what would he do then? Maybe fabricate some more plastic sticker support quests or something. I hate that ###### bag.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I feel sorry for Bronco, Council, and the CMO. They're in a difficult situation - everyone wants a well-serviced city - efficient roads, better transit, more policemen, clean parks and streets, and yet no one wants to pay an extra dime for it beyond what inflation demands.

Yup it's a difficult task - no question. But it's what their job is.

Moreover I think Calgarians understand reasonable tax hikes - but that's not what these are.

It's just all too easy to raise taxes rather than go back to the drawing board and trim the fat.

[flamingreen]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

I think Ric McIver would do a great job as well.

Will Dr. No say 'No' to his own pet projects like he does to all the other alderman?

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

It's just all too easy to raise taxes rather than go back to the drawing board and trim the fat.

First, they would have to acknowledge that there is fat to trim... and it is very unlikely you'll ever hear Bronco or Lowe say that.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by Iceman90

I think Ric McIver would do a great job as well.

You thought wrong.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yup it's a difficult task - no question. But it's what their job is.

Moreover I think Calgarians understand reasonable tax hikes - but that's not what these are.

It's just all too easy to raise taxes rather than go back to the drawing board and trim the fat.

Maybe it's the alderman's jobs too, to not continue voting for expansion/develpment further and further away which then has to be serviced.

[Rathji]

Unless someone call tell me which City of Calgary funded service they are willing to do without then I refuse to kick up a major stink about increasing taxes. I certianly am not overjoyed at the thought of it, but if no one has any alternatives....

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Flame On

Maybe it's the alderman's jobs too, to not continue voting for expansion/develpment further and further away which then has to be serviced.

Oh I agree and in fact I would suggest that people should focus their displeasure on their alderman as opposed to Bronconnier. Bronco ain't gonna change his mind - but enough pressure will cause more alderman to alter their positions.