City Hall begins budgeting process
Posted Nov 9, 2011 3:03 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
City administration tabled a massive financial document Wednesday, beginning the next three-year budget cycle which includes pre-determined tax increases totalling about 15 per cent over the next three years, including a five per cent jump for ratepayers in 2012.
But pointing to a survey of Calgarians over the summer, in which it was indicated city residents want more services, Alderman Gord Lowe — who is the head of the Finance Committee — feels the hike should be more like 20, not 15, per cent.
“I’m quite pragmatic about things,” Lowe tells 660News, saying the proposed increase will mean fewer, not more services. “Have a problem, address the problem, bite the bullet now and get on with it. Because there’s a longer range issue to look at. So, yes I am disappointed.”
“Police, fire, increased transit hours, public safety, public security, our parks and rec,” adds Alderman Diane Colley-Urquhart. “We can’t have it both ways. We can’t want all these services and then not pay for them.”
Mayor Naheed Nenshi has a different take on the budgeting process, saying for a change administration did what council wanted, instead of telling them what they should do.
“Overall, I’m really proud of the city management for really following Council’s direction on this, and the direction that the public has been engaged on this so far,” says Nenshi.
He hopes in the next couple of years, the city can find ways to further reduce a growing revenue gap, currently pegged at $200 million over the next decade.
The five per cent increase for 2012 works out to about a $60 increase for the average Calgary homeowner, with another $60 in fees to cover higher utility bills including water, waste water, sewage and garbage collection.
Higher fees are also in the budget for services such as city transit and to play municipal golf courses.
Additional tax increases of just over five per cent are on the books for 2013 and 2014.
But the numbers could change during budget debate which begins November 21st.
