25% Tax Increase – Just Say No!

Nov 7th, 2008 by Taliesyn in Economics, Municipal, Politics

OK – so Bronco and his minions at City Hall (Calgary) want to raise property taxes by 25%.  This is ridiculous.  The city is growing, yes.  And growing at a rate of 3-4% per year.  And yes there is inflation.  But growth also means more taxpayers.  So hosing everyone with this gigantic increase is completely uncalled for.  Additionally, the city budget plan includes expenses for items that aren’t actually going to be paid for by the City, such as EMS services.  But the tax money will be there to pay for it, giving Bronco and his cronies more “play money” to waste on things the city doesn’t need.

What this means in real terms is that many people will have to pay an additional $660 per year to the City.  For people on fixed incomes (i.e. seniors, the disabled), they wil have to reduce spending on things like food and heat.  And even for people with some means (i.e. the middle class), $660 per year might mean taking your kids out of dance or hockey – or cutting back on vacation.

The city doesn’t need this money.  What they need is someone running the show who isn’t scared to say “cut it” when something is unnecessary.  Rick Bell in the Calgary Sun had this good bit pointing out something City Hall doesn’t need to spend money on:

And yesterday, the aldermen also jabbered on about the $165 million they’re spending on art. An official presented but you would need a Bafflegab-English dictionary to understand.

“Four archetypes are already embedded within the context for the criteria.”

What does that even mean?  And why in a slowing economy with falling government revenues at the federal and provincial level is the municipal government wasting my money on art.  Art is a luxury – and in my view is something individuals should pay for – Supporting artists is the government’s job.

If you live in Calgary and want to complain to your alderman, their email addresses and phone numbers are here:

3 Comments

  • Not a bright bunch to issue a 25% tax increase, they have to take lessons from Windsor, ON. where money gouging is a fine art.
    86% water increase
    Utilities increase that is always going upward with extra added charges, my favourite “Debt Reduction”
    Mill rate increase as to easy the pain of tax increase.
    Outrageous user fees, permits and licenses ie.
    Business license went from $75 to $750 overnight
    $5,000.00 building permit increase
    Calgary you voted in a socialist council who do not have the backbone to fight the unions.

    Reply

  • A 25% increase? That’s just nuts! These city aldermen must not want to be relected! Looks like the Calgary council is taking a page out of Toronto Mayor Miller’s book. However, Miller’s much more creative. So he didn’t have to jack straight property taxes too much, he decided to dream up all sorts of new taxes like municipal car licenses and land transfer taxes. Hopefully Calgarians will be smart enough to vote out the council. Torontonians will likely be stupid enough to vote Miller right back in.

    I’m glad I don’t live a big socialist city!

    Reply

  • We had a chance 12 months ago to make sure this did not happen. It was there staring us in the face and we elected this Chairman Bronco.
    I have written everyone, but the minority of Aldermen, still lose every time.
    The ones, running the show, ARE control freaks that know what’s best, for Calgarians.(sarcasm)
    If anyone thinks that they did not have this planned last Oct (election) they are drinking the koolaid.
    HELP, Ralphie, anyone..are you out there? Start talking it up!

    Reply