Calgary Aldermen Expense Claims Under Scrutiny - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Shazam · 07-09-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

The Aldermen are constantly on camera, and have to look good.

Would you rather they charge for dry cleaning? Or charge the city for new suits to replace the old, wrongly-washed dirty ones?

Also, the City has an in-house drycleaning service.

Well, they could just pay for it themselves... I know, I know, that would just be too easy.

Dion · 07-09-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

The Aldermen are constantly on camera, and have to look good.

Would you rather they charge for dry cleaning? Or charge the city for new suits to replace the old, wrongly-washed dirty ones?

Also, the City has an in-house drycleaning service.

Why can't they pay for thier own dry cleaning like us regular folks?

Lot's of people in the business world have to look good and wear nice clothes. My brother does and his employer doesn't pay for his suits or dry cleaning.

The entitlement at Silly Hall is disturbing.

CM ONE · 07-09-2009, 11:26 AM

Couldn't the alderman do like the news/sportscasters do?

"Dave Bronconnier's clothing provided by Moore's"

Except if you hate Bronco you may never shop at Moore's again.

fredr123 · 07-09-2009, 12:07 PM

Alderman earn $96,940 annually, each had a $145,385 budget last year to spend on travel, courses, business expenses and assistants' salaries: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...991/story.html

On the one hand, a lot of these expenditures cited by the news are no big deal and I don't really care. On the other hand, I know a lot of people who need to wear suits every day and earn less than an Alderman but have to pay for their own drycleaning.

icarus · 07-09-2009, 12:08 PM

Haha, yeah expenses scrutiny began as a fad here about two months ago, and since them countless government officials ended up getting fired or resigning. The media goes nuts over it. Sounds like it is filtering elsewhere now too.

Somewhat ironically, the officials who end up looking like saints are the ones who are so filthy rich from other sources that they didn't bother filing expense claims.

MoneyGuy · 07-09-2009, 12:09 PM

I'm an alderman in a city that is not Calgary. I can't believe that some of you (Calgary council members take enormous heat from members here) think it's okay to expense gold lessons and drycleaning. I golf as part of my council work, and I wear clothes that need to be cleaned. I would never dream of expensing those things. If I need golf lessons (and I do, badly), I'd consider that to be a personal expense. Even if it's allowed by council policy, I don't think elected officials should do that. It just looks bad. If anything, council members should be given a monthly allowance for drycleaning, maybe $20 or something like that. Then pay it yourself and don't expense it.

Byrns · 07-09-2009, 12:31 PM

I rather have a $400 bill for dry-cleaning than one for a $25 million bridge.

Rerun · 07-09-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I'm an alderman in a city that is not Calgary. I can't believe that some of you (Calgary council members take enormous heat from members here) think it's okay to expense gold lessons and drycleaning. I golf as part of my council work, and I wear clothes that need to be cleaned. I would never dream of expensing those things. If I need golf lessons (and I do, badly), I'd consider that to be a personal expense. Even if it's allowed by council policy, I don't think elected officials should do that. It just looks bad. If anything, council members should be given a monthly allowance for drycleaning, maybe $20 or something like that. Then pay it yourself and don't expense it.

Your're an Edmonton alderman? (I see your location says: In the heart of Oiler country)

Do your constituents know about your hockey alliegances?

Rerun · 07-09-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

I rather have a $400 bill for dry-cleaning than one for a $25 million bridge.

Right on! Well said!! Two thumbs up!!!

Dion · 07-09-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

I rather have a $400 bill for dry-cleaning than one for a $25 million bridge.

I'd rather see Druh Farrel ousted from council.

Rerun · 07-09-2009, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

I'd rather see Druh Farrel ousted from council.

So would I but Farrel is only one person and she doesn't cost us $25 million like that stupid pedestrian bridge will.

Stupid bridge!

Phaneuf3 · 07-09-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Byrns

I rather have a $400 bill for dry-cleaning than one for a $25 million bridge.

Can't we have neither?

Dion · 07-09-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

So would I but Farrel is only one person and she doesn't cost us $25 million like that stupid pedestrian bridge will.

Stupid bridge!

She was apart of the descion making.

Quote:

Too true, Druh. No one disagrees with beauty or iconic infrastructure. But it's an insult to Calgarians' intelligence arguing the only way to get an "extraordinary" bridge is by paying top dollar for a famous European architect. Word is the city wants to hire the pricey Santiago Calatrava.

Quote:

We don't get an opportunity that often to build a river crossing," says Ald. Druh Farrell. "All bridges should be beautiful, but river crossings should be extraordinary," she says, justifying the decision.

http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald...6-ce4f9d42fadf

MoneyGuy · 07-09-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

Your're an Edmonton alderman? (I see your location says: In the heart of Oiler country)

Do your constituents know about your hockey alliegances?

Don't make assumptions about where I live.

And where I live they'd approve of my hockey allegiances.

SebC · 07-09-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CM ONE

Couldn't the alderman do like the news/sportscasters do?

"Dave Bronconnier's clothing provided by Moore's"

Except if you hate Bronco you may never shop at Moore's again.

What if you hate Don Taylor?

Rerun · 07-09-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Don't make assumptions about where I live.

And where I live they'd approve of my hockey allegiances.

Ah thats how you spell it. I knew it was wrong and but I couldn't figure out the correct spelling and I was too lazy to look it up in the dictionary.

As for my assumption, you say you live in the heart of Oiler country so technically wouldn't that be Edmonton? ... the heart being the driving force of the body and that would be Edmonton because thats where the Oilers live and play?

Ozy_Flame · 07-09-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dion

Why can't they pay for thier own dry cleaning like us regular folks?

Lot's of people in the business world have to look good and wear nice clothes. My brother does and his employer doesn't pay for his suits or dry cleaning.

The entitlement at Silly Hall is disturbing.

Yeah, let's negate all the private sector perks that some higher-ups get there. The fact that Alderman are allowed to write off dry cleaning sure is a tragedy, isn't it?

Kinda funny how people in the oil industry get company cars and can write off gas fill ups and use it for their own personal benefit. And then I wonder why I pay so much in gas.

A suit is a requirement for business purposes, just as a "company car" is as well.

Rerun · 07-09-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Yeah, let's negate all the private sector perks that some higher-ups get there. The fact that Alderman are allowed to write off dry cleaning sure is a tragedy, isn't it?

Kinda funny how people in the oil industry get company cars and can write off gas fill ups and use it for their own personal benefit. And then I wonder why I pay so much in gas.

A suit is a requirement for business purposes, just as a "company car" is as well.

If a person gets a company car they pay income tax on the yearly value of that vehicle (ie. the yearly leasing charge) as if it was income.
As for free gas... they have to keep a record of their personal mileage and their business mileage and they only can right off a percentage of the gas equal to the percentage of business mileage. Personal mileage consists of all miles the vehicle is driven after business hours or for personal errands during the business day and driving to and from work.

Ozy_Flame · 07-09-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

If a person gets a company car they pay income tax on the yearly value of that vehicle (ie. the yearly leasing charge) as if it was income.
As for free gas... they have to keep a record of their personal mileage and their business mileage and they only can right off a percentage of the gas equal to the percentage of business mileage. Personal mileage consists of all miles the vehicle is driven after business hours or for personal errands during the business day and driving to and from work.

I'm not disagreeing with you; but you're grouping all businesses into that ethical category. I worked in the oil industry, I've seen people expense this kind of stuff left, right and center (especially gas), with no regard for personal use tracking.

Alderman keep track of their personal costs, and that's why it becomes public. They have much the same duties that regular business do and are quite often in the public eye doing it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with expensing drycleaning, IMO.

Everyone just gets in a huff when a tax dollar is spent on stuff like this. The reality is City business is run much like a normal business except they're funded through tax dollars. That's it.

Rerun · 07-09-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Everyone just gets in a huff when a tax dollar is spent on stuff like this. The reality is City business is run much like a normal business except they're funded through tax dollars. That's it.

I agree. Its really peanuts when you consider the expense account abuses by our federal politicians and senior government bureaucrats.

City politicians are in the minor leagues, comparitively speaking.