Thursday, 23 January 2014
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Do taxes have to go up every year?
The short answer is no. Don't let anyone tell you differently.
Every year the Town of Grimsby raises taxes by about 2.5%. If you compare the 2012 budget to the 2013 budget you can see how a change in process alone could have resulted in no increase to the to levy.
In 2012 Council approved a tax levy of $9,003,640. In 2013 they approved a levy of $9,299,260 for an increase of $95,620.
The 2013 budget was approved in March. In June of 2013 the town reported a budget surplus from 2012 of $692,542.00. That number didn't factor in to setting the 2013 budget at all. The entire surplus for the year was banked by the town into the savings account (reserves).
Had Council been aware of that surplus they easily could have used $95,620 to reduce the levy requirement for the year and frozen taxes. That still would have allowed approximately $600,000 to be put into reserves.
The complaint that I always made when I was on Council is why don't we know the surplus or deficit figure for the previous year before we set the next years budget? You can't set a budget without knowing how you did last year. I want to see us move to a system where the old years budget is finished before we approve the next years budget. This is just common sense.
Taxes could have easily been frozen in 2013 if the political will were there to do it. I suspect if you look back the same scenario could have been repeated for every other budget in this Councils term.
I will continue to push for a tax freeze in Grimsby. The Town already has enough resources to fund it's annual obligations and it's time we stop asking for more from taxpayers every year just because we can.
Every year the Town of Grimsby raises taxes by about 2.5%. If you compare the 2012 budget to the 2013 budget you can see how a change in process alone could have resulted in no increase to the to levy.
In 2012 Council approved a tax levy of $9,003,640. In 2013 they approved a levy of $9,299,260 for an increase of $95,620.
The 2013 budget was approved in March. In June of 2013 the town reported a budget surplus from 2012 of $692,542.00. That number didn't factor in to setting the 2013 budget at all. The entire surplus for the year was banked by the town into the savings account (reserves).
Had Council been aware of that surplus they easily could have used $95,620 to reduce the levy requirement for the year and frozen taxes. That still would have allowed approximately $600,000 to be put into reserves.
The complaint that I always made when I was on Council is why don't we know the surplus or deficit figure for the previous year before we set the next years budget? You can't set a budget without knowing how you did last year. I want to see us move to a system where the old years budget is finished before we approve the next years budget. This is just common sense.
Taxes could have easily been frozen in 2013 if the political will were there to do it. I suspect if you look back the same scenario could have been repeated for every other budget in this Councils term.
I will continue to push for a tax freeze in Grimsby. The Town already has enough resources to fund it's annual obligations and it's time we stop asking for more from taxpayers every year just because we can.
Sunday, 19 January 2014
Beware of the Regional Transit Referendum!
Last week Regional Council approved a motion authorizing a referendum question on creating a regional transit system. It's hard to form an opinion on regional transit with the few details that we have, but I am inclined to vote no.
For Grimsby public transit is a service we don't have but we desperately need. It is very difficult to live here if you don't drive. As well, we have a sizeable population that commutes to other parts of the GTA to work and it would be nice to provide a way for commuters to leave their cars at home and get them to the nearest GO Station. Public Transit is a good way to help make life a little easier for house bound seniors and for commuters.
So, why am I inclined to vote no in the referendum?
The problem I see with a regional transit scheme is that Grimsby tax dollars will start paying for it and we will wind up subsidizing service in the larger centres with no guarantee of service for our town. When transit planners look at our town they may not see an easy win here. We have no tradition of public transit and it will take time for our residents to feel comfortable using it. That will make it an unattractive route in a regional transit scheme. In my mind we would have no guarantee of service and yet we would still be contributing dollars to it.
The other concern I have with a regional transit scheme is that many of the people who would use public transit in Grimsby want to go from Grimsby towards Toronto for work. I would be concerned
that a regional transit system would be oriented towards the larger centres in Niagara and therefore wouldn't be as attractive for people in Grimsby to use.
I want to look at other creative solutions to our transit needs. Some ideas are partnering with the Hamilton Street Railway to start a rush hour route that can take commuters to the nearest GO Station. It may make more sense for us to partner with Hamilton for public transit, since they already have a bus route into Winona.
I am glad that the region is starting this discussion, I believe that Grimsby does need some form of public transit, I just don't see how we would benefit from a regional system.
For Grimsby public transit is a service we don't have but we desperately need. It is very difficult to live here if you don't drive. As well, we have a sizeable population that commutes to other parts of the GTA to work and it would be nice to provide a way for commuters to leave their cars at home and get them to the nearest GO Station. Public Transit is a good way to help make life a little easier for house bound seniors and for commuters.
So, why am I inclined to vote no in the referendum?
The problem I see with a regional transit scheme is that Grimsby tax dollars will start paying for it and we will wind up subsidizing service in the larger centres with no guarantee of service for our town. When transit planners look at our town they may not see an easy win here. We have no tradition of public transit and it will take time for our residents to feel comfortable using it. That will make it an unattractive route in a regional transit scheme. In my mind we would have no guarantee of service and yet we would still be contributing dollars to it.
The other concern I have with a regional transit scheme is that many of the people who would use public transit in Grimsby want to go from Grimsby towards Toronto for work. I would be concerned
that a regional transit system would be oriented towards the larger centres in Niagara and therefore wouldn't be as attractive for people in Grimsby to use.
I want to look at other creative solutions to our transit needs. Some ideas are partnering with the Hamilton Street Railway to start a rush hour route that can take commuters to the nearest GO Station. It may make more sense for us to partner with Hamilton for public transit, since they already have a bus route into Winona.
I am glad that the region is starting this discussion, I believe that Grimsby does need some form of public transit, I just don't see how we would benefit from a regional system.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Internet Voting is on its way!
In this weeks Grimsby News Now there is a story (not online yet) about the Town of Grimsby moving to internet voting. This is replacing the vote by mail system that was used in the last two elections.
The vote by mail system caused some pretty big problems for our election officials in 2010, the new system should fix those. For those who are interested (or those who need a non-medicinal cure for insomnia) here is the link to the report the town staff prepared.
I would love to hear what people think about internet voting and whether or not you think it will increase voter participation.
The vote by mail system caused some pretty big problems for our election officials in 2010, the new system should fix those. For those who are interested (or those who need a non-medicinal cure for insomnia) here is the link to the report the town staff prepared.
I would love to hear what people think about internet voting and whether or not you think it will increase voter participation.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
2014 Election Campaign begins!
Yesterday I officially became a candidate for Ward 2 Alderman in the Town of Grimsby for the upcoming Municipal election.
This is the first posting in my official campaign blog where I will be commenting on current issues, talk about what I want to do as Alderman as well as other thoughts and observations on the campaign as it unfolds.
I have previously served as a Grimsby Alderman and am looking forward to the campaign so that we can talk about ideas. Being an Alderman gives you a chance to DO things not just BE someone. Personally, there are three things I want to do as Alderman:
1. Make sure the Town of Grimsby is doing all it can to attract and retain businesses;
2. Investigate ways that the Town can make life a bit easier for those who choose to live here but work somewhere else; and
3. Stop the unnecessary year after year growth in our property taxes.
I will be releasing details on these three ideas during the course of the campaign, but I also want to hear what you think the big issues facing our town are. Make sure that you take the time to ask candidates what they want to do as Alderman.
Vote for ideas not biographies.
This is the first posting in my official campaign blog where I will be commenting on current issues, talk about what I want to do as Alderman as well as other thoughts and observations on the campaign as it unfolds.
I have previously served as a Grimsby Alderman and am looking forward to the campaign so that we can talk about ideas. Being an Alderman gives you a chance to DO things not just BE someone. Personally, there are three things I want to do as Alderman:
1. Make sure the Town of Grimsby is doing all it can to attract and retain businesses;
2. Investigate ways that the Town can make life a bit easier for those who choose to live here but work somewhere else; and
3. Stop the unnecessary year after year growth in our property taxes.
I will be releasing details on these three ideas during the course of the campaign, but I also want to hear what you think the big issues facing our town are. Make sure that you take the time to ask candidates what they want to do as Alderman.
Vote for ideas not biographies.
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