Reader Response Forum
18/11/2009 03:19
New City Tax Comparison Most Damning Yet
Click on graph to see
full size version.*St. Albert in this chart is a 0 percent as it is the divisor. For example, the chart shows that for the sample house, prices in Calgary were 120% lower than St. Albert, and in Edmonton they were 60% lower. *Source: City of Edmonton, 2008 Residential Property Taxes and Utility Charges Survey 2008, September 2009 (revised)
The November 14, 2009 St. Albert Gazette contained a front page article on how St. Albert property taxes compared with other local cities. Not surprisingly, it fared badly. However, our Mayor commented that the comparisons were not fair as the “average” was used. Not fair as other cities have a different stock of houses than St. Albert. Presumably this meant that St. Albert has newer more expensive houses on average than other cities. This “not fair” label has not stopped city administration from comparing St. Albert to other Cities when it suits them. They do so even though the services and service levels are different between cities. For example, Medicine Hat has a gas utility. Several cities operate electric utilities. Some provide their own police and transit drivers. All fund different programs differently. These numbers skew comparisons, for example the dollars spent or taxes per capita, or comparisons of staff levels etc. Yet the city goes blithely forward on the comparison trail.
So I thought I'd investigate the “not fair” accusation. The data used in the Gazette article came from a comparison study done by the City of Edmonton. I looked at the other comparisons in the data: the median comparator, or the sample house. The median comparator is the house right smack in the middle: 50% of the tax values for houses will fall above it and 50% below it. The sample house is 25-30 years old, single detached, 3 bedroom bungalow, double car garage, finished basement, 6,000 square foot lot in an average neighbourhood. If we compare apples to apples, then there should be no problem with the comparison. Unfortunately the apples to apples comparison does not show St. Albert in a good light either, nor does the median comparator.
The point is, these Statistics, regardless of which comparator you choose, show that St. Albert is spending resources and taxing its residents way too much. For example, In summer 2006, Riel Park was to cost $8.4 million--$1.4 million for environmental and $7 million to redevelop the park. Those costs have ballooned to almost $29 million, $7.65 for the environment and over $20 million for the Park. And the spending is likely to continue.
In the midst of
budget deliberations for 2010-2012, Council
added more spending potential at their
November 16 Council meeting. The Public Art
Policy came before Council. Administration's
Report said it had no financial implications.
However the Mayor moved to add 1⁄2 to one
percent to capital costs for public art when
St. Albert facilities are restored or
constructed. So if we build a new
administration building/library for $50
million then $250,000 to one-half million
dollars will be added to the costs for public
art.
The 10 year Public Works Plan was next, which for 2010 and following years needs over $1 million to meet the new service standards Council set in the summer, plus almost $3/4 million for capital. These new service levels get St. Albert Services back to where they were previously. Next up is the off-site levy debate, where Administration is asking taxpayers to shoulder the burden for developing the annexed lands.
Citizen input is critical. Unfortunately, we all have busy lives and this is difficult to fit in. If you can, let Council know of your concerns. The Taxpayers of St. Albert deserve better.
Lynda Flannery
President
St. Albert Taxpayers Association
Download the complete graph and file here.
SINC SAYS:
This has to be the single most damning document ever produced to show just how badly the city of St. Albert has been managed over the past eight years. Or is that mismanaged?
How any councillor with half a brain can even begin to defend such extravagance is unbelievable, isn't it?
If there ever was a reason to fire senior administration management, this is the just cause needed.
It is time for two things to happen. First, fire Robbing Hood And His Merry Band Of Men and second, force council to reign in spending immediately with a tax reduction for this budget year.
Ode To Forgetfulness
READER RESPONSE:
Don,
I had to laugh at the video you posted today.
The piece with the reading glasses - tho' I hate to admit it - is soooo me!
V.M.
St. Albert
Hang Up Your Christmas Lights Yet?
Many of my neighbours spend a lot of time decorating their houses for Christmas. And they were out in force on the weekend doing just that. Not to be outdone, I got my lights up as well:
