WHAT ARE CORE SERVICES - WHY FUND THEM FIRST?

 

Why We Can’t Afford An Endless Wish List

Let's have a conversation about what are core services and what are not core services:

What Are Core Services?

Core services are the basics every city *must* deliver:

- Water (paid by user fees)

- Sewer (paid by user fees)

- Garbage (paid by user fees)

- Roads (potholes, plowing, paving)

- Police and fire (public safety)

These are the essentials. Not flashy. Not optional. Without them, a city falls apart.

The Taxpayer Reality Check

So if water, sewer, and garbage are covered by fees—what do our taxes actually pay for?

Here’s the truth:

- City staff salaries and benefits—some of the highest-paid in the community.

- Generous pensions most private workers can only dream of.

- City-run programs and projects that aren’t always essential—like bike lanes, consultants, and community art plans.

Estimates show up to 70% of your taxes go to staff wages and benefits. It is not just very generous pay cheques, but pension funds that are not even fully funded. Fully paid medical and health plans. Generous vacation time and accrued sick days etc.

The Bottom Line

Before we fund every wish-list project under the sun, let’s get the basics right:

✅ Roads.

✅ Fire and police.

✅ Parks that don’t fall apart.

Once the core is funded *sustainably*, then we can talk about the ‘nice-to-haves.’

Because if the core isn’t strong, the city collapses—and taxpayers get stuck with the bill.

Make sure your City Council stays focused on the essentials—before we get carried away with endless projects and shiny distractions.

YOUR VOICE -YOUR CITY -YOUR FUTURE