THE BLUE MOUNTAINS - A near eight per cent tax hike proposed
for 2012 has residents protesting, but the potential for garbage bag tags is
making people truly offended.
Several letters poured in to The Blue Mountains' clerk objecting to the
proposal for a full user pay garbage collection system that could mean $2 bag
tags are mandatory for all garbage going to the curb.
One letter writer complained that their household only generated half a bag of
garbage per week, and it wasn't fair to pay the $2 fee for that small amount.
Several argued that bag tags would lead to increased illegal dumping.
Most of the letter writers said garbage collection is an essential and basic
service, and there were other "frills" and "excesses" in
the budget to cut before council should consider a bag tag fee.
The public meeting to receive comments on the proposed 2012 budget was well
attended, with more than 50 residents seated in the council chambers on Monday,
January 23.
Terry Howell stood in opposition to bag tags, adding that he might reconsider
if there was a town-wide green bin collection in place already.
Though staff and council have talked about implementing such a program,
currently there is only green bin collection in select areas in town.
"I can afford an extra $100 a year," said Howell. "It's not the
money - it's the principle."
He told council to stop "nickel-and-diming" taxpayers.
Director of Finance, Rob Cummings, said a $2 bag tag fee system could
potentially bring in almost $300,000 per year for the town.
This proposal comes in the wake of an $8.5 million landfill expansion and
landfill project proposed to begin in 2012.
The tax hike did not escape criticism, and Michael Seguin, president of The
Blue Mountains Ratepayer's Association was the first to speak out against the
near eight per cent hike at the public meeting.
"Last year, council and the public were told that staff had produced a
budget with 'the utmost fiscal restraint' and we ended up with a 2.7 per cent
tax levy increase," said Seguin. "This year the word 'restraint' is
not even used ... Now, with less revenue to pay for substantial increased
enhancements ... we, the taxpayer, are held responsible and must pay more. What
a great source of revenue: the taxpayer."
He listed several line items he thought were "hidden tax funded requests
or discretionary spending," including new office furniture, computer
replacement, debt to finance demolition signage at the old town hall site, and
$225,000 over five years for a housing committee.
Seguin called the garbage bag tags an "ill-conceived idea" and a
"quick way to pay for enhancements."
He objected to what he called a lack of open and transparent process for the
bag tag proposal.
"If council votes for this budget and an increase at 7.8 per cent, then
the reality will set in for most taxpayers that this council has no clue and
cares nothing about 'the hardships and ability of this community to pay,'"
said Seguin, quoting the objective listed on the town's budget documents.
Some letters and presenters criticized the town for having too many staff and
adding to the contingent.
Cummings told the crowd that the only new hire this year is a bylaw officer
dedicated to enforcing short-term accommodation bylaws.
In fact, said Cummings, the staff contingent is not changing over 2011 because
the town did not replace one staffer who retired last year.
Terry Thompson, president of the Georgian View Estates Ratepayers Association
called for a member of council to champion the taxpayers' cause.
Tony Dundas told council it should tell staff to "go away" and come
up with a two per cent tax increase.
Fred Barnes said he wanted a zero per cent increase.
"We don't want this eight per cent, that's stupid in this day and
age," said Barnes.
Other public complaints included the amount of money the town spends on
consultants and town vehicles.
Water and wastewater rates are also on the rise for 2012.
Water rates will increase by 6.25 per cent and wastewater will increase by 7.25
per cent.
Staff attributes these increases to new requirements from the province under
the Safe Drinking Water Act, which mandates that municipalities must have a fee
collection system and reserves that will allow it to replace the entire
infrastructure when the need arises and without funding from the province.
Some residents reluctantly accepted the hike in water and wastewater rates,
saying they believed the hikes were the result of provincial legislation.
Seguin, however, was skeptical, and said there wasn't enough evidence to
suggest the rate hikes were necessary. He acknowledged that there should be
some increase, but thought the 6.25 per cent and 7.25 per cent proposed were
too high. He said the infrastructure isn't very old and would last longer than
staff predicted.
Council will take a vote on approving the 2012 budget with a 7.8 per cent tax
increase and the proposed hikes for water and wastewater rates at its next
meeting, which is slated for Monday, February 13.
The 7.8 per cent tax increase, when combined with the county's 2.5 per cent'
hike means an overall tax bill increase of 3.75 per cent in 2012.