If a candidate tells you they are in favour of rate-of-inflation tax increases, you should ask them what services or jobs they’re going to be cutting, Ward 11 candidate Kevin Lalonde said in a recent news release.
Although he doesn’t say how high tax increases should be, Lalonde was clear that rate-of-inflation increases just won’t cut it.
The cuts will have to come from services or personnel. It would be nice if our contractual obligations and our liabilities we pay increased by the same rate of inflation every year, but they don't,” he said. “Most people don't want to see their level of service falter and get cut, and our services are dependent on the manpower to provide and administer them.”
Lalonde encourages Sudburians to be involved in the budget consultation process, to push for priorities. That’s the only way the public’s input is included in municipal spending, he said.
The full text of Lalonde’s release is below.
So any candidate that tells you they want to keep tax increases at or equal to the rate of inflation, your next question should be, "What do you plan on cutting?"
The cuts will have to come from services or personnel. It would be nice if our contractual obligations and our liabilities we pay increased by the same rate of inflation every year, but they don't. Most people don't want to see their level of service falter and get cut, and our services are dependent on the manpower to provide and administer them.
Technology will improve efficiencies and replace some of our manpower liabilities, and this can be done through attrition as there would be no need to create economic turmoil within the corporation or the city, for that matter.
So when looking for efficiencies to service, what are our options come budget time? As citizens we have to take charge a little more and get more engaged in the process, and that means getting involved in the budget input sessions. Making your priorities known to staff — what you want to pay for and what you're not willing to pay for — is paramount.
Next is to let your councillor know as well, especially the councillors sitting on the finance and administration committees. If by this much-needed public engagement it results in a 0.5-per-cent reduction in the overall budget for that year then we are at least not turning our wallets completely upside down.
Realistically an election promise of rate of inflation tax increase is saying, “I am going to borrow it from the reserves to pay tomorrows bills.” Eventually this catches up to us.
Learn more about Lalonde on his election page on Sudbury.com.
