Reader Response Forum
19/11/2009 05:32
Mayor Responds To Taxpayers Observations
SINC SAYS:
Yesterday in this space we shared information with readers compiled by Lynda Flannery, president of the St. Albert Taxpayers Association which outlined the massive spending increases by successive councils and the same administration over the past eight years.
It was a shock to me as a taxpayer to see the total spending increases which in many cases totalled over 100 percent while the city grew by less than 10 percent.
I asked the mayor for his comments on the observations presented and got this response:
Don,
Your readers are correct in that St. Albert is higher residentially taxed on average than any other municipality in the region or Alberta.
Depending on what services one wants to compare, one would have to comment on that. Whether it be RCMP per thousand population, road safety, crime, volunteer versus paid Fire, public transit, trails per capita, trees per capita, sidewalk km per capita, river valley costs, festivals, recreation facilities, recycling, by-law enforcement, etc., there would be a list of comparisons that are valid for some and not valid for others.
Some cities in the region and province have some of the above and some don't; some have aggressive repair plans on their roads, sidewalks and bridges and some don't; the list goes on.
Over the long haul, our policies and infrastructure and programs total more per capita than others in the region for home and part of a significant part of that formula is the fact that we do not have non-residential development compared to most to offset residential taxes.
Council has an obligation to attract non-residential and keep spending in control to the best we can.
Regards,
Mayor Nolan Crouse
City of St. Albert
SINC SAYS:
Stay tuned tomorrow for more from the St. Albert Taxpayers Association once they have had time to see this response from Mayor Crouse.
Taxpayers Notice Of Meeting And Executive Nominations
Hello all:
We are in dire need of help for the following positions:
Vice President (George Valan is stepping down)
Secretary (Pat Collins is also stepping down)
I will run again for President, and Cam McKay will run for Treasurer as Rob Hartley is stepping down.
Please let me know if you will consider letting your name stand for any of these positions. The election will be at our November 24th AGM/Business Meeting held downstairs at St. Albert Community League Hall, 17 Perron Street, St. Albert.
Attached is the AGM agenda for download here.
Thanks a lot for your participation in what has been and will be an eventful year.
Lynda Flannery
President
St. Albert Taxapayers Association
