Though we as taxpayers must definitely discuss whether city hall has good ideas, or not, on how to spend our taxes, the real question is whether the city is already taxing us enough to fund the right ones.
From 2008 to 2012 Port Alberni tax rates increased by 42 per cent—this during a period of very low cost of living increases, job and wage losses, and economic turmoil.
Now the city proposes to increase by 13.7 per cent, ,ore than five times the cost of living.
This increase will move our total tax rate increase to 61.5 per cent since 2008, (good old compounding interest).
Countries around the world have been driven into bankruptcy and financial ruin by these kinds of spending increases.
Some of the 2008-12 increase was to cover the transfer of $2,125,000 from the industrial tax base to residential tax base, which is now complete.
However, 42 per cent is way in excess of that.
If you include the 2013 increases to sewer and water, which are taxes, the proposal is really for a 2013 tax increase of 19.5 per cent for the average home.
It is not just our local government that has it wrong. Municipal governments as a whole are the worst of the worst when it comes to taxation increases and lack of spending control, and they still continue on their over-spending and over-taxation ways.
Only you and I can “force” city hall, the mayor and council to get with the program, stop raising taxes by unjustified amounts, and getting spending under control.
Make your opinion known to the mayor and councillors who, after all, work for us.
Peter Finch
Port Alberni