Hands In My Pockets: One Man's Opinion

By Ben Meisner

Now let’s see, the city’s debt costs run between 7 and 8 million a year.

That’s the amount of money we pay out in interest on the money that we owe.  They want to increase the taxes by 4% so that they don’t have to add another $115 thousand a year on that interest bill. When we are already paying out between 7 and 8 million dollars what’s another $115 thousand?.

Well it seems to be a big number suddenly.

The Hall is delaying the decision until Feb 28th, and there’s talk that maybe they should just make it 2% this year and then 1 % for the next two years there after.

Why can’t we in the city figure out how to save the money that should be going for roads?

 The chestnut we have been handed is that the Feds and the Province have cut back in their funding for the city. Well that’s not true now is it?

From about $ 4 million received in 2004, to about $10 million last year from both levels of Government. That simply dose not equate to a reduction although we are being handed the spin that way.

To be sure the Feds and the Province have said, for example some of the money must go for green initiatives, so doesn’t that then free up money from that account that can go elsewhere. For example how about the traffic fine money going to build a new police station?  Now wasn’t that money supposed to go to fighting crime?

 
No if you want to sell us this one, how about first coming clean?

Don’t suggest that you have heard the wishes of the people.  Less than 200 out of around 24,000 eligible voters, or even using last election figures of around 17,000 and someone has the gall to suggest that you have the pulse of the community . If you want the pulse of the community, let them vote on the matter, that is a real pulse.

Through all of this exercise we have been told why the city needs to increase your taxes every year to provide more money for roads. Has anyone thought of that age old method , cut your spending , you known start to live within your means , and quit reaching for the nearest pocket every time you need a dime? 

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

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