Cash grab-Alberta School Foundation Fund Requisition:
The requisition will jump by $214,789.32 for 2012 which in simple terms if the municipality does not off set this with other savings (Thunder in the Valley $160,000 for example).
Taxes will increase by $114.81 on a $350,000 property or $65.60 on a $200,000 property.
Proposed Cash grab-Utilization of Franchise Fees to stabilize the mill rate.
Interesting concept the municipality will increase your Power and Gas rates so your mill rate does not go up as much. We will take more out of your left pocket therefore we can take less out of your right pocket.
By increasing the Atco rate in 2013 to the maximum a further $211,980 will be brought in, by increasing the Fortis rate to the maximum in 2013 a further $124,965 will be brought in.
Incentive for additional cash grab-The census results which saw the population of the Crowsnest Pass drop by 184 people will result in a per capita funding decrease of $78,586 for 2012.
Information-Municipal Reserves now sitting at $ 1,131,328
Information-Municipal debt now sitting at $1,578,507
Showing posts with label Municipal debt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Municipal debt. Show all posts
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
It's only garbage, Spring Cleanup in the Crowsnest Pass
Well here, we go again the old issue of Spring Cleanup.
This annual ritual (some years bi annual) where we take our municipal workforce away from jobs that they should be doing and turn them into garbage men (nothing derogatory towards garbage men) for anywhere from two to six months.
Over the last seven years this absolute waste of time as cost the taxpayers anywhere from $100,000 to $400,000 per year in total somewhere around $2 million.
Wow, we could have put in place three new graders, three new loaders and probably a couple of brand new trucks without incurring one dollar of debt in that timeframe.
So new council made up of mostly people that pledged to go after the inefficiencies within the municipality to keep the cost of taxes down takes another look at this issue.
Lo and behold, they have come up with a new plan they are going to remain being one of the few communities in the province that still does this silliness but they are going to do it differently.
We the taxpayers are going to be supplied with a list of items that are eligible to be removed by our public works employees, (temporary garbage men). For two weeks, the taxpayers will have the opportunity to call the municipality to notify them of the need to have their garbage picked up.
Then the municipal employees will come around and pick them up. The dollars allowed in the budget for this Myron Thompson stated $10,000 just for labour.
My response to that is “dream on” at our labour rates that works out to a little under 300 hours of labour over a one month period that “two” employees assigned to this.
Think about a few things:
How hard is it going to be to call the municipal office those two weeks?
We have over 3200 residences in the Crowsnest Pass imagine if only half of them call for a pick up, the logistic nightmare of coordinating that exercise?.
If house number one and four on a block calls to schedule a pick up, number three sees his neighbors putting out material so he just goes ahead and puts his out will the municipal employees just drive by because he did not schedule?
Councilor Saindon stated I believe correctly that this cleanup will cost just as much as the old one. He as also stated on his blog that he is clearly opposed to this, I hope he can convince his colleagues, it is time for the Crowsnest Pass to recognize as so many other communities have this is not a luxury we can afford.
Its time to end the debate on Spring Cleanup.
NOTE: Surprising results on my poll regarding the new cleanup only 2 voters (5%) felt the new idea was good, 11 voters (30%) felt the municipality should stick with the old cleanup. Lastly 23 voters (63%) felt that the municipality doing cleanups should just end.
This annual ritual (some years bi annual) where we take our municipal workforce away from jobs that they should be doing and turn them into garbage men (nothing derogatory towards garbage men) for anywhere from two to six months.
Over the last seven years this absolute waste of time as cost the taxpayers anywhere from $100,000 to $400,000 per year in total somewhere around $2 million.
Wow, we could have put in place three new graders, three new loaders and probably a couple of brand new trucks without incurring one dollar of debt in that timeframe.
So new council made up of mostly people that pledged to go after the inefficiencies within the municipality to keep the cost of taxes down takes another look at this issue.
Lo and behold, they have come up with a new plan they are going to remain being one of the few communities in the province that still does this silliness but they are going to do it differently.
We the taxpayers are going to be supplied with a list of items that are eligible to be removed by our public works employees, (temporary garbage men). For two weeks, the taxpayers will have the opportunity to call the municipality to notify them of the need to have their garbage picked up.
Then the municipal employees will come around and pick them up. The dollars allowed in the budget for this Myron Thompson stated $10,000 just for labour.
My response to that is “dream on” at our labour rates that works out to a little under 300 hours of labour over a one month period that “two” employees assigned to this.
Think about a few things:
How hard is it going to be to call the municipal office those two weeks?
We have over 3200 residences in the Crowsnest Pass imagine if only half of them call for a pick up, the logistic nightmare of coordinating that exercise?.
If house number one and four on a block calls to schedule a pick up, number three sees his neighbors putting out material so he just goes ahead and puts his out will the municipal employees just drive by because he did not schedule?
Councilor Saindon stated I believe correctly that this cleanup will cost just as much as the old one. He as also stated on his blog that he is clearly opposed to this, I hope he can convince his colleagues, it is time for the Crowsnest Pass to recognize as so many other communities have this is not a luxury we can afford.
Its time to end the debate on Spring Cleanup.
NOTE: Surprising results on my poll regarding the new cleanup only 2 voters (5%) felt the new idea was good, 11 voters (30%) felt the municipality should stick with the old cleanup. Lastly 23 voters (63%) felt that the municipality doing cleanups should just end.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Councilors not clear on increasing Municipal debt load? Do we really know what's going on?
Imagine going through a budget process, then two months later Two councilors indicate that they didn't realize the Municipality was assuming over half a million dollars in term debt.
More exciting news a new approach to Spring Cleanup????
Will my taxes really be going up?
And how to make yourself look good with a surplus
More to follow......
More exciting news a new approach to Spring Cleanup????
Will my taxes really be going up?
And how to make yourself look good with a surplus
More to follow......
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