Tax Increases in the Crowsnest Pass

Recently ran a poll on what would be a reasonable tax increase for 2011, offered up six options on what in my mind would provide an opportunity to cover all ends of the spectrum.

They were, with the corresponding results

0-1% 6 votes 10%
1-2% 7 votes 12%
2-3% 7 votes 12%
3-4% 6 votes 10%
4% or greater 3 votes 5%
Get creative and cut taxes 27 votes 48%

Well from amongst the people that spoke here, the message is loud and clear.

Why is this relevant? for the following reasons: Tuesday Night Jan 18th Mayor Decoux asked council at least twice, "does council feel that they were elected to maintain the status quo, or to bring change to the municipality"

If you read my post on the meeting Councilor Saje offered up change in the form of a budget with some different ideas. Councilor Saje also spoke about how our population and tax base continues to decrease, but our spending goes up and up.

Councilor Saje also spoke about our organizational structure, why does the Pass have a Financial Department and an HR Department, when most other municipalities group the two together?

Councilor Saindon talked about the need to increase user fees, spoke to how the general public can no longer be expected to support programs that only 20% of the public uses. He also addressed the issue of performance of our various facilities.

Councilor Gallant also raised the issue of the Albert Stella arena how it brings in so little revenue versus its costs to operate, he also stated that there is no greater deterrent to bringing in new people and increased tax base than municipal tax increases.

Mayor Decoux stated that positions taken regarding no tax increases are very short sighted, that in the long term you need dollars to invest in the infrastructure of the municipality, or people will go else where, where the streets are all paved and facilities are provided.

Administration responded by making the case that the municipality needs to hire "more" people to find the efficiencies, so that in time as attrition takes place the positions at the municipality will "change" and where possible those efficiencies that the new people find will take place "in time".

Councilor Saje in his motion proposed that operating costs of some departments be reduced by 7%, in a previous post I stated that if you want to find real efficiency improvements that is the way to do it.
If council attempts to "find" the inefficiencies the debate between them and administration will go on forever, give administration clear direction and goals and let the people that do the job every day find the inefficiencies.


Status Quo, versus change, versus being creative.

As far as the 2011 budget, I clearly heard on one hand Councilors Saindon, Saje and Gallant talking about zero tax increases.
On the other hand I heard Mayor Decoux, Councilors Mitchell, Londsbury, and Gail talking about tax increases.

Budget continues in the Crowsnest Pass? When?

Checked out the Municipal web site today, looking at the agenda for the G+P meeting on Jan 11, I was surprised that there was no mention of the 2011 Budget.

I'm sure a lot of taxpayers are waiting anxiously to see what there tax bills will look like.

Interesting process going on in the city of Toronto right now. They similar to us have a new Mayor and council, who took the approach during their election campaign that they will do things differently that they will not increase taxes, that they will find the "inefficiencies" within the system. Sounds familiar doesn't it? any way the Council directed all of the department heads to reduce their budgets by 5%.
Today the Mayor announced due to the fact that two city managers are resisting that direction, that if they can not do the job, they will be replaced by people that can.

If you really want to find the inefficiencies, Council won't do that. Individual councilors only see the obvious issues that the vast majority of taxpayers already know. (Its not a huge revelation that we spend a lot of money each year on spring cleanup).

If you really want to see the inefficiencies cleaned up then the role council should fill is having the guts to direct administration. Management put in the right position with clear direction and support from council, and a council willing to deal with the reaction of vocal interest groups will find places where the municipality could be more efficient.