TEN PERCENT TAX HIKE! PAYING OF FOR OUR EXTRAVAGANCES!

GRAVENHURST COUNCIL TAKING A LONG WALK OFF A SHORT PIER -

I’d like to read a comment from just one councillor, who breaks ranks, to hurl some blame for this pending 10 percent tax hike, for 2011, on the over-spending of a previous council. Normally I don’t like it in federal and provincial politics, when everything that goes wrong is because of a “previous government.” In the case of Gravenhurst Council, it’s pretty obvious the extravagances of the recent past, are complicating the affairs of the newly launched four year term. It’s a pretty rough haul for the mayor, who will now have to sell this large increase, to cottage associations already teed-off about high property assessments, for minimal service use. As for the rest of us, well, it’s just another reason to worry about the cost of living. While there seems to be the same old disenchantment from town departments forced to cut-back, is there a smidgeon of regard for what a ten percent tax hike will mean to families, the disabled, seniors, all those on fixed incomes......with no possibility of off-setting increases from their own income sources? A reduction of library hours sucks but not nearly as much as facing a tax hike and not having the money to pay the bill. This is the humanity we need to be thinking about.

While there’s a lot of lobbying for what should be in the budget, and what should be cut, or reduced, it’s still the case that these issues are on the table largely because of the less-than-frugal previous administration......and I daresay, the burden of chain we will all be hauling about for the next four years. And while councillors will defend this year’s budget hike as a necessary evil, what happens next year, and the year after that......as backed-up and deferred projects have to be dealt with evermore urgently. What about the potential increased operational costs of the new recreation centre? Bracebridge saw a huge increase in operating costs initially, with their new complex. Are we studying the potential of this? I’m not sure how many more surprises we can take here.

I caution this council, to devote a little more time, to the rates being considered for the new recreation centre. I have this uneasy feeling that to make up for over-spending, they will opt to over-charge users. If the pool facility is truly for our community, then it must take into consideration, that setting admission and program rates too high, will eliminate a large number of folks who would greatly benefit from this recreational activity. I’m not asking council to set this up as a losing proposition.....it’s not in my character to do so.......but if they truly desire to meet the needs of the citizenry, they must understand above all else, that we are not a wealthy community, and there are many folks and families without surplus funds to enjoy a trip to the pool. And while some will argue that this is none of their business, and fob it off on the social / welfare realities of the planet, I’m hopeful some intuitive councillors will rally for the less fortunate, and refuse to allow the institution of unfair user fees.....at least without a fight. Knowing there are folks unable to use the pool, that we funded, because of gouging at the “ticket wicket,” would be a travesty to our hometown values.

If we can have the extravagances for councillors, or a new town hall we couldn’t afford, and could justify handing over the old town hall to the Fire Department, then we can surely find it within the realm of possibility, to keep admission and user costs at a level, reflective of our citizens’ capability of affording the service. It would be arrogance to the extreme, to discount how damaging it would be to this town, to start off a bright new facility with an unrealistic fee schedule.....in a hurry-up mode to recoup costs. The best way is to increase attendance by offering affordable admission rates.

As for the 10 percent tax hike? I’m sure there will be a few councillors thinking about jumping ship after ratepayers finish having a whack at them. I warned a few council hopefuls before the election, that the next four year term would be a dandy......and they should toughen up to the fiscal vulnerabilities they’d have to balance, before sailing onto any new projects. I’m witnessing a boat with a lot of holes to patch before there’s any meaningful traverse elsewhere.