Just Who Is Paying For the Road Work In Prince George

Monday, August 25, 2008 03:45 AM

I don’t know who is in charge of the signs that the City puts up saying, this road work is being done in part by the money received from the Terasen Gas deal.

If you’re going to put up signs, how about one that says, "the tax payers of the city are putting up (through a special levy on their taxes) 4% or $2.35 million a year, while the Terasen Gas deal is contributing up $500,000 dollars" ?

Oh did I forget that we also contribute yet some more money to roads in this city, via regular taxes, so the sign should read, "This road work is being done with the taxpayers footing the bill , first through taxes on a regular basis, then through a special tax levy and then a small portion is being paid through the Terasen Gas deal where we borrowed a bunch of money on behalf of Terasen gas, and we have a lot of years to go before we find out just how much we get from the deal."

It’s not winter, if you’re going to try and snow the taxpayer try and do it in somewhat of a summer fashion.

That sign that the city has paid for and pounded on a pole is leading the taxpayers into believing that the Terasen Gas deal is what is paying for the road work in the city. If it has had that affect on you, may I suggest that you have a look back to last year’s taxes that you paid on your home. You, as a residential home owner, can take comfort in knowing that you paid the lion’s share of the levy and indeed you are the one paying for the majority of the road rehabilitation in this city.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Monday, August 25, 2008 03:45 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: rambleon on August 25 2008 6:28 AM

...and who's DOING the road work in Prince George?

The line painting over the bridge and up Foothills all the way to Chief Lake is absolutely atrocious. The lines are anything but straight, and they painted between the old broken like to make a new solid one! It seems the problem wasn't fixed, because I've seen other lines painted around town that are nearly as poorly done.

Posted by: REALIST on August 25 2008 9:15 AM

Gee Ben, by now I would have thought that most would have expected the use of political propaganda to make any action look favorable in the eyes of the voters and taxpayers. After all we have seen some of the best spindoctoring ever by the Harper and Campbell governments. Monkey see monkey do. Leading by example etc.

Posted by: whynotyou on August 25 2008 9:24 AM

Thanks Ben, was pretty sure we were the rightful donators to the cause all along! We saw one of those signs (Terasen) in our area a couple years back, we were curious if a councel member lived on the street that was so nicely repaired!

Posted by: Bridge on August 25 2008 10:00 AM

I guess they are trying to snow under the 4% tax levy that we pay each year forever. Lets hope the voters dont eat it at election time. Hurrey November.

Cheers

Posted by: robichal on August 25 2008 10:38 AM

I was also wondering if the line painters on Foothills were drinking when they painted those lines - my 4 1/2 yr old could have done better!

Posted by: kagee on August 25 2008 12:23 PM

Did everyone forget that the 4% levy was to be only for one year? We have now had it for 2 years and everyone just laid down and accepted it for the 2nd year. We need a tax revolt like they had in California.

Posted by: diplomat on August 25 2008 1:07 PM

At the time it was plainly stated and explained that the new tax levy would be in perpetuity, i.e. everlasting! It is replacing a dubious habit by the City which simply borrowed the road rehabilitation money each year and continuously added it to the debt of the City.

The levy is everlasting like the cracks and potholes and poor excuses for sidewalks. I call it the *Z* levy - the Z being self-explanatory.

Posted by: faithfulreader on August 26 2008 8:16 PM

Once again, well said Ben! Thank goodness we have someone like you keeping an eye on our City Council.
To all of us posters, lets pay attention to our next municipal election.
Our municpal tax dollar is our most valuable tax dollar. Remind people of that.
Lets elect people that will look after the people instead of their 'friends'.

Posted by: lostfaith on August 26 2008 8:28 PM

Most people that get elected start out wanting to help people, but that quickly changes some how.
Call city hall and complain to them about the shoddy workmanship from the line painting crews.

Posted by: Elsies DAD on August 27 2008 9:02 PM

New blood in city hall is what we need,and yes the job[line painting] is poor work.
They should not be paid for such crappy work looks like they were drunk.
As for road repairs Campbell such ante up for the amount of money he takes from the north and the pay raises he gave his crew, ever so silently.