It seems almost ironic, just has we the taxpayers of the Crowsnest
Pass sit patiently waiting to
receive our Assessment Notices. To see how much that overall 2.5% tax increase has
affected us as individuals. I finally received the information that I have been
asking the municipality for since January 5.
How much have our leaders been spending on Consultants?
Today I picked up this massive two page document at the
municipality the first page of which is basically a cover letter that says here
is the information you requested.
The second page breaks down consultants that have paid for
by the municipality since Nov 1,2010 , separated in to nine specific
areas, here are just a few that people have been talking about for months.
Lets look at the first area Planning, Development, and
Safety Codes remember the Mayor’s Task Force one of the members was Janet Hyde
according to the report I have, she received $5,303 ? I also see on the list a
payment of $19,000 made to Abiocon Strategies who could that be? Well very
interesting when you google the company, after a couple of clicks on it’s web
site who pops up? Janet Hyde.
Next appears a payment of $48,673 to “Friesen Tokar” they
are described as a “Architectural, Landscape and Interior design company” with
offices in Winnipeg and Calgary .
Then we take a look at the Fire and Enforcement area. We
have all heard lots about the integration of the Fire and rescue
departments and the upcoming establishment of the Community Peace Officer
Program. We have already spent a whooping $140,000 restructing this departments.
Of that amount we spent $43,570 on “All Fire Investigations
Inc” which when googled, pops up has Kenneth Brands of Blairmore Alberta
(Fire Chief who recently resigned). Then we see $80,345 spent with Transitional
Solutions, finally under this category appears $13,055 paid to “Inn Heaven Bed
and Breakfast” which is a bed and breakfast located right here in Coleman I can
not imagine why we would incur a cost of over $13,000 to a Bed and Breakfast in
Coleman to reinvent our Fire and Enforcement area.
Lastly I turn to Administration, there we see $123,200 paid
to Transitional Solutions. Now within the information an attempt is made to
cover off the cost of Transitional Solutions by subtracting the cost of the CAO
position and the manager of operations to the tune of $93,425.
The CAO position was
vacant from June 15 to Nov 31 five and a half months.
Total on just the numbers listed above $333,146.
What does that mean to us as individuals? From a taxation
point of view this year the Municipality is collecting an additional $264,162
from us in General Municipal Taxation an increase of 4% over last year and the
largest increase in the last four years. All in a year where the assessment base actually shrunk by 2.5%.
I wish somebody would explain to me how your assessment base can shrink by 2.5% the amount of revenue collected by the municipality can go up 4%, and yet we only have a 2.5% tax increase. There is some very interesting number juggling going on.
I wish somebody would explain to me how your assessment base can shrink by 2.5% the amount of revenue collected by the municipality can go up 4%, and yet we only have a 2.5% tax increase. There is some very interesting number juggling going on.