Dip, but no chip

In the good old days double-dipping used to mean extra chocolate on your ice cream cone or the rude person who dipped the same chip for a second time. Now its definition is simply greed.

So far we've heard about the nurses. politicians etc. but we've heard nothing about the masters of the art of double-dipping. The teachers. Not only do they get a retirement gratuity for announcing their early intention to retire but they come back and work on contract, receive salary, pension payment and benefits. Good gig. Meanwhile we have young graduates who are waiting tables or doing other menial tasks to help support themselves while they try to get on the sub list and hope it will eventually lead to full time teaching employment - or leave the province.

As for Lingenfelter's dilemma, I was surprised he was only receiving $36,000.00 annually. Perhaps he's sharing his pension benefits as a result of past matrimonial property settlements. If he is donating to charities it would behoove him to state the recipients of his largess and whether or not he receives and uses tax receipts for income tax purposes.

This is a circumstance that Brad Wall is not going to have a goodly while.

Man, its hard to resist that dip!

(Wo)Man's Best Friend

I am delighte dwith the report that recommends opening up downtown parks to leashed pets. I wished they would include all parks. Perhaps they could post the ski runs as off limits rather than the whole park. As for the additional costs I would suggest they simply increase licensing fees by a buck to pay for the receptacles, signage, etc. and provide the doggy do bag dispensers of facilitate pick up of feces. And strongly enforce the bylaw that fines pet owners for not cleaning up after their pets - a great cash cow I would think.

Lastly, thanks to Councillor Hill for his support for this change.

Monkey see, monkey do

There was nothing unexpected in the provincial budget. Those most affected were the sinners and the saints. Since most of this top secret document was shared prior to budget day, the ballyhoo on the specifics is pretty much done. However, there is a general observation that is noteworthy.

The Provincial Government found itself in financial dilemma due to overstating commodity revenues, namely potash. Commodities are risky gambles. Borrowing from savings for operational needs is also a risky gamble yet the provincial government is, in essence, using money that is not generated from current revenue sources to fund the budget.

Our city, and other Saskatchewan cities, have been forewarning of large tax increases as a result of the Provincial Government being unable to increase revenue sharing to municipalities this year. The cities have known this for some considerable length of time yet continued to spend without a proviso that the spending was contingent on provincial funding.

Now, like the Provincial Government, our city is considering a budget that relies on the unforeseen, that being that provincial revenue sharing will increase next year. Given the current situation, that is a risky gamble. According to the Mayor use of land sales revenue is being contemplated stating that land sales are expected to remain strong. Again, a gamble. We should be asking the "what if" questions.

Lastly, we have six councillors who six months ago, during the civic election campaign, promised not to increase taxes if re-elected. These councillors knew, or should have known, what the what was coming down the pike. We'll wait to see if they keep their promise or simply point fingers away from themselves.

I guess we wait and see what monkey business comes our way in the civic budget.

Say a little prayer

I've been reading the smattering of letters to the SP Letters to the Editor chastising the Mayor for attending the Mayor's Prayer Breakfast because it is a Christian event. If the Mayor refuses this event should he also refuse to attend the annual Holocaust Memorial at the synagogue? Or a First Nations activity that starts with a ceremony that has a spiritual connotation? Or any event that reflects any religious belief, recognition or celebration of any single group?

The Mayor's Prayer Breakfast is simply a collection of citizens that gather to praise and pray for their politicians to make good and honest decisions. Some would say they need all the help they can get. Others may think this prayer falls on deaf ears.

I pray that we will quit preying on Christians because they are a majority

Another day older and deeper in debt

Financial advisers will tell you there is good debt and bad debt. In essence good debt would be a mortgage to buy a home if you can afford it. Bad debt would be running up your credit cards on frivolous spending. The problem with debt is, whether it be good times or bad, it must be paid. So I am concerned about the prospect of the city enlarging on its debt capacity up to $400 million dollars (SP Mar. 23/10).

The city comptroller says there is a pretty solid revenue stream to service the debt, being gas tax, utility rates and assessment growth.

Last year after an extremely wet summer city administration reported low revenue from water sales and wanted an increase. Then when we received the last water/sewer increase it was supposedly a way to have people conserve on water. Now we see it is going to service debt.

Whenever a new area is introduced the city needs more money to develop it. I thought that infrastructure money for new development came from the sale of land from the previous development. I also thought that an expanded tax base meant more tax payers to share the load for services. However, it is the revenue stream for debt.

And recently the provincial government had to stay its contribution to the municipalities as a result of its budget woes. In reality the only solid revenue stream is property tax.

I am back to my mantra of wants and needs. We may need a new bridge and this debt may be a good debt. I'm not sure at these times of uncertainty that capital spending on wants, being public facilities, and the ensuing operating costs, is good debt. Perhaps this spending should be put on hold for now.

I like the idea of a proactive council. I appreciate vision. I also appreciate the consequences of excessive debt. I also appreciate common sense. We need balance - and it is a difficult act.

Deja vu

I didn't believe Obama was going to be able to pull off his health care bill. But then again it was a close race when Saskatchewan held its vote on medicare way back when. Interestingly not one Republican voted for it even though the polling indicated the majority of the American public supported some form of health care. I would guess its because the Saskatchewan people actually had a say in the decision rather than leaving it in hands of the elected.

I wonder of the recent American Supreme Court ruling that over turned the decision to limit corporate donations to political entities had anything bearing on how the Republican representatives voted?

Over the Hill . . . and down

I think it is time for Councillor Hill to make up his mind what he wants to be when he grows up. Four and a half months ago he fought a contentious election campaign against Carol Reynolds to represent Ward 1 in civic government. Now he is seeking the nomination to be the Liberal candidate for Saskatoon Humboldt (SP Mar. 19/10).

My first reaction was the cost to the local tax payer for a by-election in the unlikely event he won a federal election. He put an end to that by saying he was not required to give up one position in order to hold another. While that might be true, it doesn't mean he can adequately do either job at the same time. How can you respond to the concerns of your Ward 1 constituents when you are in Ottawa when parliament is sitting? I know he wouldn't misuse a federal constituency office by doing council work through that venue. How do you attend committee and council meetings when your in Ottawa? Would we have to pay for a big screen for a simulcast attendance? What is more annoying is double dipping he proposes to do. I personally don't think his services are worth a quarter of a million dollars.

I look for integrity in a candidate. During the civic campaign Mr. Hill was one of the six incumbents that stated if re-elected he would not increase taxes. That vote is around the corner. And I will be watching to see if his billboard advertising is included in the civic campaign disclosure statement due at the end of May.

As I live in Saskatoon Humboldt constituency I can only hope the Greens come up with a good candidate. Better yet add "none of the above" to the ballot and save taxpayers a bundle of money.