A Quarter for your thought’s finally a “debate” on Franchise Fees

At the G+P meeting of September 18,2012 I sat patiently for over a hour and a half listening to delegations from the “Forty Developmental Assets Committee and the Southern Alberta Weed Coordinator” then to an update on the Strategic Plan that basically represented a back patting contest on how great the recommendations from the first pillar have been implemented or in the process of being implemented.

Then we found out that the final report on the Rum Runner Day’s weekend is in true TITV fashion being “deferred” to the October 2 meeting of council.

We got down to the issue of the $366,000 tax grab for 2013 better know by the label of Franchise Fees. Councilor Gallant and Saindon very quickly made some comments about looking for other answers than just raising taxes.  Councilor Mitchell came to the rescue with a suggestion that would cut the increase by $70,000 so only hammering us with a $266,000 tax increase instead of the initial $366,000. (I guess six slaps to the head are better than seven) this approach had some support from Councilor Gail.

Then to my surprise Councilor Londsbury took the approach that this is only a $97 a year increase a “quarter” a day. He could not see where people are making such a big deal (On some web sites) he even went as far as to pull a pile of change out of his pocket that he had counted during the break and tell his colleagues here I have my next 35 weeks worth of the increase.

So at this point I am waiting for everybody to fall into line with Councilor Mitchell’s suggestion.

When suddenly I was blown away when Councilor Saindon stated “just because we can take the taxpayer’s money doesn’t me we should” Wow that was great the Mayor then pushed him for detail to which he laid out a list of items to review for cost cuts.

-Reduction of redundant services

-Work order program to determine inefficiencies and waste

-Skating rinks and pools where utilization rates are down and wage costs are up

-Bulk fuel purchases

-Equipment Utilization

-Big ticket equipment items that are not being used, even 100 hours per year (See my story on the Hoe)

Then Councilor Gallant laid out his area’s of potential cost cutting

-The Town Rounder

-Rural Garbage pickup

-Summer Ice ($60,000 at the arena)

-Money to heritage groups (Heritage Board, Museum, Bellevue Mine)

Not for a second did anybody suggest that all of these things should be taken away what they did suggest is that all of these things should be looked at before just imposing another $366,000 of tax on our residents. I have no problem dumping on these guys when they screw up but they also deserve KUDO’s when they do the right thing.

Yes I know it’s only a year to the next election and I feel that some of the councilors are feeling a little heat from the local taxpayers but some of them still did the right thing.

The Franchise Fee issue will be coming back to council in their first budget meeting, I would recommend that anybody that is talking to their councilors keep up the pressure let them know that you are glad they delayed this “tax” now you want it to go away completely.    

Fire Departments/Rescue Meet with Administration

Big meeting Thursday night at the Elks Hall between, Administration, Fire departments and Rescue.

The press release is available on the municipal web site regarding Emergency and Protective Services.

Note: Another chance to voice your opinion on this issue http://www.crowsnestpasspromoter.com/


Here is the way it was explained to myself.

There will be a Director of Protective and Community Services hired, basically a replacement for the former Director (Cam Mertz) probably cost the community a little more money due to the expanded duties of the position.

Under that position will be a Manager of Protective Services/Fire Chief I am told that this will be another new full time position. (You are not going to fill this position for less than $80,000 a year, plus a pickup, computer, clerical support etc etc.)

Under that will be a Deputy Chief which I am told will still be a volunteer position.

Then from there the municipality will be broken into two areas West (Coleman + Blairmore) and East (Hillcrest + Bellevue) each will have a District Chief. So the four positions that used to be fire chiefs will now be replaced with a West and East District Chief.

Then there will be a rotation put in place (Emergency Response Model Deployment) which will for example in the West have Coleman providing coverage for week 1 and 3 each month and Blairmore providing coverage in week 2 and 4 each month.

Once again the way it was explained to be is each squad will have a minimum of five people on call during its turn in the rotation.

My opinion of where this is going. The Fire Departments have always been a very hot potato here politically. I was told a long time ago that the politician that stood up and demanded fire departments to be closed would be committing political suicide.

So how do you achieve that goal with out a huge back lash. First of all you bring in a consultant to look at your protective services. (Politicians love consultants, they have somebody to blame for their actions other than themselves).

Then you come out with a recommendation that says you could better serve the municipality by having two areas of coverage instead of the present four. In reality, you will only have one fire department in each area at any given time because in the East for example Hillcrest will provide coverage in week 1 + 3 and Bellevue in week 2 + 4.

Any of us that have been privy to the numbers will tell you that there are very few fires in the East end of the community, in a year the argument will be made that the East as been provided ample coverage with one department. Due to the fact that there were very few incidents and you have only one fire department covering you at any one time. Nobody will speak up in the west because their departments will not be touched at that time.

In essence the fire departments will do such a good job of providing coverage that they themselves will prove that you can get away with one department on each side of the municipality. Even our former Mayor stated in a strategic planning meeting that some where down the road there would only be two fire departments one on each side of the slide.

I hope that the municipality will maintain the fire coverage it requires, I also hope that there is going to be long term sustainable funding found to pay for another new position.

How to push people away from your community. Taxes and more Taxes

Over the years I have always taken the position that Taxes should not be raised by more than the cost of living. Governments at every level need to look at areas of waste and inefficiencies and do every thing than can to be more efficient, before they increase the burden on the average taxpayer.
In this day and age communities are in competition to attract new people especially rural communities, the mines have hired a lot of people who have had the option to live here or in the Elk Valley, one of the important factors that plays in to that decision is Taxes, the cost of living in their chosen community.

The District of Sparwood has been tracking the cost of Taxes and Utilities between themselves and the surrounding communities. They used a typical, similar 1200 square foot home from each community.

Crowsnest Pass Taxes $2,352.04 Utilities $712 .44 for a total of $3,064.48
Fernie Taxes $2529.30 Utilities $ $539.79 for a Total of $3,069.09
Elkford Taxes $2063.73 Utilities $375.00 for a Total of $2,438.73
Sparwood Taxes $1,657.95 Utilities $663.60 for a Total of $2,321.55

That puts the Crowsnest Pass at a disadvantage versus Sparwood and Elkford, with our Taxes and Utilities being a full 32% higher than Sparwood and 26% higher than Elkford.

We as a community must be prudent financially to lessen this gap, we need to give people reasons to come here, not to choose elsewhere.

Every candidate in this coming election should be asked their position on raising Taxes, and anybody that as previously sat on council should be asked how they voted when there was tax increases much higher than the cost of living on the table.

Looking for ideas! Cutting Municipal Costs in the Crowsnest Pass

Anybody following my blog can see that we are having a difficult job keeping taxes under control in the Crowsnest Pass. I would certainly enjoy hearing from my readers any suggestions that would help us out. If you are a little shy and do not wish to post on the blog send your suggestions to deanward4@msn.com.

Thanks Dean