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Municipal Budget Too Rich

By Ben Meisner

-by Ben Meisner

While other governments have been reducing taxes and cutting their costs, in Prince George we face another tax increase in spite of being told that things have never been better in the city. 

With the new house starts returning to the their old stats  with increased gaming revenue , increased revenue from gas fees and an increase in the assessment we must still increase our taxes in order to meet our budget . 

We seem to have champagne taste and forget we should be on a beer budget. 

The federal government cuts taxes and programs, likewise the provincial government cuts programs and tries to bring taxes more in line with what the people can afford, it is trend right across Canada.

The argument you get from the city brass is that the senior levels of government are down loading costs onto the municipalities, perhaps to some small degree but look no further than the local budget to see what is happening. 

Instead of a good road network we have opted for an increase in spending in recreation which takes a huge chunk out of our tax dollars. Recreation yes, but at what point, after we have a good highway system, or before? 

There is looming on the horizon a reality check, it is the end of the harvesting of the beetle killed wood and the fact that 2700 jobs will disappear from our city. We have done little to look to the future beyond trying to lure athletes to our area to train for the 2010.  That in itself describes our priorities in this region. 

Government is supposed to lead by example; the City of Prince George has been a poor one. 

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

 

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