By Staff
February 17, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
How much do they want to spend and how much are they going to tax you?
The city will take an additional 3.64 % more in 2015 than they did in 2014.
They added $125,000 to the 2015 budget – that will break down to $19.10 for each $100,000 of property valuation.
There was a total of $37,675 in one time spending added to the budget this year.
Next time out, which is in 2016, there might be a hint that money is needed for a new city hall – there was no heat in the council chambers so everyone packed things up and headed for the Centennial Room at the New Street Library.
Your Council spent 3 ½ hours running through the budget, tempers flared, differences of opinion were expressed and poor John Taylor kind of got clobbered again.
There is now a clear right wing cabal in place which, surprisingly get Councillor Dennison to go along with them.
Councillors Craven and Sharman are the core of this cabal and they inevitably get Councillor Lancaster to go along for the ride.
The power in this Council clearly lies with these three – the Mayor is at times seen as an add-on.
The Mayor did however, move the motion to approve the motion and send it along to council later in the month for approval.
He called the budget miraculous and commented that the 20 year long range plan, which every Council member and staff explained was an approximation, projected increases in spending that were two times the rate of inflation.
All in the future of course but once written down these things tend to take on a life of their own.
This is a good example of why Burlington needs a larger City Council.
The tax paying citizens need to be aware that had the mayor not spent the $7M+ to needlessly enrich a commercial property owner at Walkers Line and QEW, the tax increase could have been 0% (zero).
Just know extra money did nor help went to residents of Burlington for Transportation. There will be another Handi Van. Increase to fares. Zero for seniors but increased isolation.