Friday, February 25, 2011

Well here comes the first real tough choice! Maintaining a 0% tax increase.

Previously I have stated that it was too soon to get caught up in the excitment of a 0% tax increase.

But maybe not! has I have also stated previously Council could still maintain a 0%, by choping the budget by the equivalent amount of any increase in the ASFF.

Well now available on the municipal affairs web site is the cost of the ASFF, and once again the province is increasing the burden on the residential tax payer.

Total education requisition for 2011 $2,542,134.47 versus $2,366,565.40 last year. An increase of $175,569.07.

Three options at $65,000 equals 1% tax increase

a) Increase taxes by 2.7%
b) Decrease the budget by $175,569.07
c) Some combination of a+b.


Yes the 3.2% for last year, with putting $450,000 into reserves and $250,000 into equipment does not look so bad if they go with option A.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

we need a taxpayer revolution here in Alberta as they are having in Wisconsin. Outrageous demands and give aways to the public sector (teachers, municipal workers, etc.) needs to be addressed.

7.4% increase over last year is ridiculus!

Anonymous said...

So Dean your previous blog about zero not really being zero is coming true.
We could end up paying almost the same tax increase as last year.
And put no money into reserves and take on $600,000 in debt to buy new equipment.

Thats Insane

Anonymous said...

Did you notice on Gallant's Blog they did not put any money into reserves because there was "no reserve policy" But they hired five people without following Saje advice, conducting an organizational review. Would that not be the same as having a hiring policy in place before you hire.
No Mr Gallant you did not hve to raise taxes to put money into reserves. Just take the $400k you are going to spend on new jobs each year.
Imagine explaining to your spouse you can't save money because we don't know where we are going to spend it.

LOL

Anonymous said...

Can you image it? There was no reserve police in place when this new council took over! What a shock for this new council. When they decided to go with not tendering out newspaper advertising and it was not going down so well with the public the mayor said the problem was because the former council did not have a policy in place. Anom. 11:27 AM makes a good point, if there is no policy in place and it does not make sense to put money into reserves but lack of policy does not stop them hiring more employees.

I am sure this council is well aware the former mayor liked to do things by the seat of his pants, a wink and a nod. If the new council is OK with having closed meeting for the policy members and the economic task force it does not look like much has changed.

I am not buying Councilor Gallants spin either. I would like to post this on his blog but he is not receiving comments at this point. I noticed after the newspaper advertising issue heated up he closes his blog for comments after a couple of days. In a community where many of us work four and four I guess we have to be quick. I appreciate the other blogers leaving theirs open for comment.

Anonymous said...

WE can't save money because there is no policy????????????

As Anne Spatuk said I thought I voted for smaller government

Anonymous said...

Well lets hear the politicians weasel on their no tax increase promise.
Cut the jobs now.

Anonymous said...

I'm tied of hearing policy, policy, policy.
This town only needs one policy if they want to attract more of us "weekenders".
A clear, decisive policy of no tax increases.
We can not afford to pay any more. If we get slapped with any additional tax burden. Not just the seniors like Larry will be priced out, but so will people like myself.
People that are maintaining two homes who will be forced to choice one home or the other.

I voted for people on this council that swore no tax increases, did I make a mistake.

Anonymous said...

So Dean tell us what we can do? Is there anyway possible to influence these guys decision?

Anonymous said...

What will our taxes be next year?
I think they will try and make up for 0% increase this year and hit us hard next year!

Anonymous said...

No the zero is not going to happen this year. Read Dean's comment above. With the school tax coming in the way it did, these guys can only maintain a zero by cutting.
Will that happen? I don't think so.

Chloe said...

CNP is an interesting study in human behavior. You have gone along for years allowing a single newspaper to rule along with a Mayor that can do no wrong. Gee, can we say Bridgecreek? Come an election, you once again bow to the power of a family run newspaper, with the editor throwing a hissy fit in council to guarantee advertising in her paper. The good folks of CNP voted out the very man that you now seek out on this blog for information and guidance. You don't need an Economic Task Force, you need a major employer besides Tech to provide well paying, long term employment for the citizens of CNP. What does a former Dean of a University know about business? Nothing, Deans do not set budgets, they simply spend to the end of said budget. Elect politicians that are unwilling to pay the unions salaries in the stratosphere.