Congratulations to Mr. Donauer on his successful run for a council seat. And a special mention to Ms. Robertson for her stellar campaign. I was pleased to hear her say she will be back in the political arena down the road (SP Nov. 29/10). Also a thank you to Cherkewich, Winton-Grey, Johnston and Feraro for offering up their services to the public.
I shouldn't be, but was surprised at the exceptionally poor voter turnout. What was even more mind boggling was the length of time it took the city to render the results given the automated counting system used. A manual count of 2,800 (give or take) votes would have been faster. We are talking one ward, seven polls.
Meanwhile back at the ranch council was busy increasing taxes. Added to yesterday's list is the $50 million for the library, Water intake facility $44 million, 25th Street expansion $17 million, $3.3 million for a computer-controlled trunk radio system - we're getting close to the "B" word. None of these dollar figures seem to be fixed. The Art Gallery continues to be listed at $60 million, yet the addition since the initial announcement added $8 million to the original $58 million price tag. Have we reached the point where $6 million is considered chump change?
Levies seem to be the administrative push for the future. A levy will get a separate line on the bill and leave the appearance of a lower tax increase. Although council turned down the proposed levy for back alley maintenance I expect to see it back on the table along with per bag charges for garbage.
On the levy issue notable comments by councillors ranged from ". . . but I'm not going to double-dip the taxpayer." said Councillor Neault. Sadly, we already do that with the infrastructure levy on our utility bill. Councillor Penner said "It'll be interesting to see what each of us is willing to cut in order to put more money into this." Answer - nothing. The mill rate will simply be higher as its not an election year. Covering off the whole debate on debt and taxation, Councillor Paulsen stated the obvious with "We can break it up all we want, this is going to hit the mill rate.
Perhaps we do need massive tax increases to provoke the public into making the effort to vote.
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Good job filling in the time during that overly long wait last night.
ReplyDeleteMiss Robertson was vying to be the youngest councillor in history yet declined to give her age to the Star Phoenix, interesting?
ReplyDeleteI don't blame her for not giving it. Unfortunately, her age would put off potential supporters despite all her other strong attributes. Her age really shouldn't matter, it's the substance of her campaign that should carry the day.
ReplyDeleteI was really impressed by how she handled herself in media interviews immediately after such a slim loss...that takes composure.
I think it had more to do with not want to be judged based on lack of experience and education.
ReplyDeleteBecause after all, you know, the public doesn't deserve to know the CV of the people that are vying for the job of running the city.
It was one of the deciding factors for me in deciding to cast my vote elsewhere (Winton-Grey). She was too short on life experience to be trusted in making decisions for the residents of the City.
Probably another Darren Hill suggestion to withhold the age.
We keep hearing about a North Bridge, just exactly what traffic will be reduced with this bridge? Can we assume all big trucks are going to or through Saskatoon? If it is to then they will still take Circle Drive to get to the north industrial area even with a new North Bridge. If it is through, where are they going Edmonton,Calgary, the Battlefords,PA? Will the new South Bridge with it's better connections to highways to Calgary, Edmonton, NB and PA not take alot of the heavy traffic off of Circle Drive? I think we should wait to see the impact of the South Bridge before we start planning a North Bridge and it's 4-5 hundred million price tag.
ReplyDeleteI like the old school manners that dictate that it is impolite to ask a woman her age. Having said that, although she declined to give her age prior to the election, in today's paper she is stated to be 23. Is age an appropriate question to ask? I know some in the +50 vintage that act like adolescents. I know twenty-somethings who are wise beyond their chronological years. Anyway you cut this those on the younger or older ends of the scale envoke a negative reaction from the voters. Strange.
ReplyDeleteThings that irk me most are the late in day allegations about candidates, circulated through the social media/networks, that do not allow the candidates to defend themselves to the aspersions.
Let's leave race, creed and color off the table. In the last general election there were last minute allegations of faith and anti-gay positions alleged of a candidate in Ward 1. If found them to be untrue.
When you have a sitting city councillor using councillor funds such as cell phones to rally for a candidate you have to wonder.
ReplyDeletePoor voter turn out.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts on compulsory voting? Internet voting? Increased civic education in schools?
Anon 8:41 am
ReplyDeleteAh, the wait and see attitude which has caused us so much problems with today's road system. Just like when the original north circle drive bridge was designed the powers that be decided to put off the 6 lane version to avoid addition cost (taxes) at the time thus keeping a low mill rate. But in hindsight costing double to construct in a very short time frame. Not exactly what I want happening in my life time. We are backlogged in infrastructure because for the flawed positions of previous councils taking the "wait and see" attitude. Now as shown in a couple of recent articles in the StarP the current land owners are going to feel the wrath of those ill begotten days. There are a couple of councilors still around that should be made to answer the tough questions. One of them Mr. Penner who is quoted as saying he wants to see where others will find the money to put into things such as lane maintenance. Well Mr. Penner if you quit funding every special interest group with my tax dollar or taking on programs that the Province should be funding such as social/low income housing maybe the City's budget would look differently in keeping the money firmly placed where it should be and that is on CIVIC SERVICES!! not land holdings and social handouts. We need Council to get back to what they were first mandated to do.
So what is next for levy implementation? City sidewalks?? Lets see everyone that has the "luxury" of having a sidewalk in front of their place will not only be required to keep it clean from snow in the winter they will now need to pay for that privileged.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure where the civic administration is getting these ideas but it has to be coming from council as I don't see them just throwing these things out there without some kind of direction.
This is maybe why there needs to be more open meetings of the committee meetings. What appears to being talked about behind close doors is more about how to fleece the public then information that is sensitive in nature. Unless of course you consider their re-election bids to be sensitive.
If the City wants to go to a user pay system then maybe the new areas should start by funding their own fire halls and police services/road crews etc. Any capital costs associated with these new areas ie equipment/building expansions etc should come out of the initial property value not by addition points on the mill rate across the board. This would definitely help in getting the construction industry to looking at existing property/inner city as a better cost effective situation thus lessening the expansive nature of urban sprawl.
By the logic above, perhaps those communities in the north end should also solely foot the bill for their billion-dollar bridge/freeway.
ReplyDeleteThis whole debate was had this summer when residents near Boychuk road wanted a sound barrier wall constructed. It appeared at the time that the consensus was the area should pay for the wall and not the city.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a more reasonable solution would be an allocation of tax dollars to each ward. Council could opt to give smaller more frequent payments to certain areas for maintenance or constructing of new amenities (ie. a fire hall), or council could save up a ward's funds and use it for larger projects such as the Shaw Centre.
In all it would make the Councillors more accountable to their citizens and concerns from one citizens within each ward would be better addressed.
Then ward 5 could build their new sidewalks, and ward (whatever-Boychuk-is) could have their sound wall, in the mean time each other area would have money for improvements to their area making them less likely to bitch about anyone-else-but-them receiving tax dollars for a community project.
I hope no-one here thought I was advocating for a user pay everything system. Our problem is council keeps upping the mill rate and then turns around inviting new ways to find money from the same taxpayer. I would love a system that would make councillors more responsible to their wards. A collective tax base gives us many advantages. But things such as a north bridge isn't a single ward item it is a city wide solution to traffic. Can other things help traffic patterns maybe, but a north bridge is just as important as the south. The big picture is what council needs to focus on but they also need to realize the people aren't going to stand for overruns and filly dilly pie in the sky ideas. River Landing is nice, I use it a lot, but the fact council has flawed the development process and cost millions in extra interest costs is unacceptable. But then again with a 15% turnout it is obvious the majority don't care.
ReplyDeleteNovember 30, 2010 9:14 AM
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
When you have a sitting city councillor using councillor funds such as cell phones to rally for a candidate you have to wonder.
You should try slinging some fresh mud. Yours is getting dry and crusty. Dry mud doesn't stick too well.
Hey those are my tax dollars hard at work by Mr. Hill?
ReplyDelete"
ReplyDeleteYou should try slinging some fresh mud. Yours is getting dry and crusty. Dry mud doesn't stick too well. "
When a sitting city councillor is using taxpayer dollars for a partisan campaign it matters. Sorry Darren, you won't be winning any federal seat anytime soon.
December 2, 2010 10:30 AM
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
"
You should try slinging some fresh mud. Yours is getting dry and crusty. Dry mud doesn't stick too well. "
When a sitting city councillor is using taxpayer dollars for a partisan campaign it matters. Sorry Darren, you won't be winning any federal seat anytime soon.
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Have you actually provided any PROOF yet? I thought not.
The proof has already been established! Others have already mentioned the use of a taxpayer funded cell phone for campaign related activities in attempting to elect Ainsley.
ReplyDeletejust as a heads up......chances are city councillors are big users of cell phones, so they likely have a nice buddle that includes unlimited local minutes, just in case joe public decides to repeated talk a councillors ear off.......sooooooooooooooooooo, all these taxdollars that Hill used to help Robertson's campaign likely amounts to a very, very little.
ReplyDeleteGet over it, it's such a petty thing to complain about.
Why would a sitting councillor use or any elected official use taxpayer dollars to campaign for a candidate? It seems to cross a no matter what the cost.
ReplyDelete