Letter to the Editor

Potholes and roads seem to be the main debate in every civic election that I recall going back 20 years of watching our local council.

In our opinion, this election should be about fiscal restraint and more efficiency found within the city budgets. Our municipality has been quick to go back to the taxpayer for increases and new funding for projects that perhaps we should be refraining from.   A city’s core focus should be on roads, sewer, water, emergency services and recreational services. Albeit, we would all like to see improved social conditions within our community we need to truly examine the roles and responsibilities of our municipal government.

The increase in property tax every year is becoming too much of a norm and accepted by the community on a larger scale. If this path continues, taxes will not be affordable and could create future economic hardship for residents, and stifle economic growth in the community.

The City of Cranbrook is the fourth highest taxed municipality within our population category in the province, in both the residential and business classifications according to information obtained from Civic Info BC.

In the past three years we have seen our council raise property taxes over 12%. Yet the Consumer Price Index in BC has increased 3.4% over the same period of time from stats obtained from Statistics Canada. In 2011 a home in Cranbrook, that was reflective of the average sale price in the city had 2010 property taxes of $2,294.00 that same home now has a 2014 tax bill of $2,737.00 nearly 19% higher in four years. This analysis takes into consideration tax rates and fluctuating assessed values. Cranbrook is already at a disadvantage on a competitive tax scale to attract business & residents and yet the five-year financial plan shows that we are going to continue down this dangerous path.

The city’s five-year financial plan is projecting revenue from taxation to be more than 25% higher than 2014. This forecasted increase somehow will have to come from the tax base. Examining the five-year financial plan there are several budget items that need to be questioned by candidates.

Scrutinize the city’s annual reports available on their website and see the incredible growth in spending over the past three years. Now I am sure there are reasonable explanations to all of this spending, but as taxpayers can we afford it? As taxpayers we should be asking all of our candidates including the incumbents “How will you manage our taxpaying dollar better?” Our current council has been caught in spending nightmares that are abundant and wasteful.

So, should this election be about roads? Or should it be about fiscal restraint. If we manage the taxpayer dollars better at city hall perhaps then we could find the resources to adequately fund the core services of our municipality including roads. As a taxpayer are you prepared for a 25% increase in taxation over the next five years?

It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.”

Jason & Christy Wheeldon,

Cranbrook

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