2013 Calgary Municipal Election Thread

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Any updates on progress here? I've given my usual rant about the speed we're getting new ARPs elsewhere, and a developer had this to say:



Any comment on whether the cutting red tape program will be getting to the planning departments any time soon? If affordable rental housing is one of the mayor's goals, it seems like the planning process is getting in the way more than its helping, as he indicated it could here:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/al...924/story.html

Most planning related 'red tape' issues have been rolled into the Transforming Planning Initiative to be dealt with. That project will come forward with its final recommendations in December with implementation (although already happening at different levels) starting in earnest by the new year.

http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/Pages/Tran...ormingplanning

Planning's a big beast in need of a lot of reform, so it is taking time to get it right.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

The big issue for me and what I want to hear from Mayor Nenshi in his campaign is taxes and how much are they going to be going up if at all. I can't believe that they can raise taxes anymore. They have to find other solutions.

Compared to the other big city in this province I can tell you that we pay at least 11% less in property taxes for two similarly located condos in either City with the Calgary condo assessed at 8% lower property value.

IMO anyone who thinks property taxes are too high in Calgary dont know what high property taxes are.

$100 a month on an averaged priced condo is peanuts, and thats even taking in my biased opinion that condos that takes up air (for the most part) are taxed at the same rate as a house that takes up land.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by SebC

If the current plan to increase developer fees in 2015, if executed, would have these expected effects:

- developer fees increased by $7000 per single-family home (approximate average)
- price of a single-family home would increase by less than $7000 (as the developers would not be able to pass on the whole price increase)
...

I think the fact that developers say they wont be able to pass along the costs is complete BS. on a 450K home thats is less than 1.75% increase.

Anyone who can afford a new home in the "burbs" can afford the $7K fee. This isnt the time of the $100K home, these homes are close to half a million.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by SebC

I don't see how they can NOT raise taxes. Calgary has amongst the lowest municipal taxes and highest roads spending in the country. That's not sustainable.

That may be true but you can't just go and raise taxes just because they're amongst the lowest in the country. What my point is, taxes can't be going up faster than people's wages. I always think that all levels of government need to better accountable of taxpayers money.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

That may be true but you can't just go and raise taxes just because they're amongst the lowest in the country. What my point is, taxes can't be going up faster than people's wages. I always think that all levels of government need to better accountable of taxpayers money.

That's the other sustainability issue here. Everytime the arguement that taxes have been increasing higher than inflation gets brought up, it gets shouted down by the claim that 'the city's costs are a different basket of goods that happens to experience cost inflation higher than the 'Calgary CPI.'

I can buy that as a valid explaination for a one-off year, or a trend that happens for a few years. However it's not sustainable for that to persistantly be the case forever. No one seems to have concrete answers to this or want to talk about it. I'm sure Nenshi doesn't want it to be a ballot box issue on how much more people should pay in taxes to make up for the water/utilities/infrastructure deficit, nor does he want to promise that taxes will be more in line with inflation after said deficit is funded.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Slava

It should come as absolutely no surprise that SebC will cherry pick data to continue his crusade again at the suburbs...

You're inferring an argument I haven't made.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

I think the fact that developers say they wont be able to pass along the costs is complete BS. on a 450K home thats is less than 1.75% increase.

Anyone who can afford a new home in the "burbs" can afford the $7K fee. This isnt the time of the $100K home, these homes are close to half a million.

I think they're more fond of saying that they'll pass on the full increase, in order to scare consumers into voting their way. Neither is true. The burden of the developer levy increase would be split between consumers and producers. If they were able to charge $457K instead of $450K they'd be doing it already.

======================

Originally Posted by JobHopper

That may be true but you can't just go and raise taxes just because they're amongst the lowest in the country. What my point is, taxes can't be going up faster than people's wages. I always think that all levels of government need to better accountable of taxpayers money.

Low taxes is not a reason a reason to raise taxes in itself, but it suggests that tax increases may be necessary to meet service expections. Our tax rate has caused debts, both fiscal debts and infrastructure debts. Tax increases above inflation are uncomfortable, but the alternative is making the hole we're in even deeper.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

What my point is, taxes can't be going up faster than people's wages.

I believe that this depends on if the taxes were at an adequate level in the past. If taxes stayed constant while wages rose and investments were deferred, it only makes sense that taxes would need to increase to a level that would allow these deferred and now required investments to occur.

[Kjesse]

I don't buy the argument that we should be giving a free pass to Nenshi for raising property taxes so much, since before Calgary's property taxes were relatively low before him.

Calgary's infrastructure is better than many cities comparable to our size, and to have accomplished that for less taxes and with an acceptable debt load means prior mayors were doing something right.

Nothing will stop Nenshi being mayor next term, so in my ward, I'm going to vote for a councillor who will commit to stopping the trajectory of property taxes. The trend we are on is not good and it has to be pulled back.

Nenshi has been doing a decent job but he has been too loose with opening the public purse for my liking.

[Bigtime]

Ward 1 candidate Chris Harper has released his platform, personally I believe he is worth a strong look from any residents of the ward (plus he does reply here every now and then, love that transparency).

http://www.chrisharper.ca/

[Tyler]

I don't necessarily get why Nenshi has to always be the fall guy for property taxes going up (which they probably should given our infrastructure needs).

People don't seem to grasp that he is one vote on council.

[CaptainCrunch]

Sadly I only have one candidate in my ward running against a guy that I think is completely worthless as an Alderman. He looks like a decent enough candidate, but having a one on one election is nearly worthless.

This is what I hate about this city. No one that's decent has the balls to run against incumbents most of the time.

I voted for Nenshi in the last election, I'd really like to see good candidates running against him to at least keep him honest and make him accountable and give voters alternatives.

But looking at the complete craziness of talent running against Nenshi almost makes me want to ruin my ballot.



.

[CaptainYooh]

Two MGA changes needed asap:

1. Eliminate the ward system.
2. Two terms maximum for each elected municipal official.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Ward 1 candidate Chris Harper has released his platform, personally I believe he is worth a strong look from any residents of the ward (plus he does reply here every now and then, love that transparency).

http://www.chrisharper.ca/

Great guy, I know him personally and he definitely loves his community and loves to tackle the issues to make Calgary a better place. Very passionate about municipal affairs, and if you get a chance, definitely approach him and say hi. He's one of the nicest, most easy-going dudes out there. I hope he wins Ward 1; he came in second place last time and I believe has a strong chance to win this round.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Two MGA changes needed asap:

1. Eliminate the ward system.
2. Two terms maximum for each elected municipal official.

Just out of curiosity, how would eliminating the ward system be beneficial?

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Two MGA changes needed asap:

1. Eliminate the ward system.
2. Two terms maximum for each elected municipal official.

What would you do instead of wards?

I would love to see a term limit, though.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Slava

Just out of curiosity, how would eliminating the ward system be beneficial?

It would help reduce the chances of completely clueless people like Barry Erskine, Linda Fox-Melway, Patti Grier and Craig Burrows getting elected. I see a lot more merit for Aldermen elected and evaluated (i.e. re-elected) based on the value of their work for the entire city benefit rather than protecting their ward interests that are often quite petty. They need to do this in the present system to get re-elected, because only the ward is electing them. I realize this is a big issue and, if applied to the provincial or federal levels, it would supposedly fail the fair representation test due to the disproportional population concentration around the provinces/country. However; at the municipal level it should work, since the density distribution throughout the city is reasonably manageable for representation purposes.

[CaptainCrunch]

But that's impossible, how will the emp. . . err mayor maintain control without the bureaucracy?

[bizaro86]

Municipal politics are local by definition. If you had one big group to vote for I'm pretty sure you'd end up with party lists, which I wouldn't want at all.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

But that's impossible, how will the emp. . . err mayor maintain control without the bureaucracy?

Fear will keep the local communities in line.