CITY COUNCILOR EXPLAINS TAXATION POLICY

 

CITY COUNCILOR HILARY EASTMURE EXPLAINS

This is a Facebook post by Councilor Hilary Eastmure explaining the need for higher taxes. This demonstrates the thinking on this city council. It further demonstrates how managing with the funds you have is something they just don't get.

Hilary Eastmure

"I understand the frustration and that’s also why the Federation of Canadian Municipalities is advocating for a new Municipal Funding Framework from the federal government, because the property tax system is antiquated and doesn’t enable us to cover even the basic cost of maintaining old infrastructure, let alone the cost of building the new infrastructure required for more housing. Municipalities own more than 60% of public infrastructure yet we only get 8-10 cents on the dollar of all taxes collected. We do need to be focusing on critical needs and maintaining and updating aging infrastructure to serve basic needs, while planning for growth and serving the needs and wellbeing of residents with the services and amenities expected in a city as amazing as Nanaimo. I’m available to talk more by phone or email, I find the comments section isn’t the best for nuanced conversations."

MY REPLY: Hilary Eastmure Why you think you just need MORE money rather than change how you MANAGE the money you do have is part of the problem Hilary. To start being guided by Donut Economics instead of a sound Core Service Review is where the City starts going off the rails. Funding the development of new infrastructure before maintaining existing is another problem. Spending tax dollars for projects that developers and landowners should be funding is another. Metral Drive and Commercial Street are two examples of this, as is the Midtown Gateway. They are all using general tax dollars to benefit a very small group. Buying and developing a new site for a bus depot while ignoring the Wellcox property after spending millions on it is another example. If Council were being guided by a Core Service Review things like boat houses would not be on the list. A Core Review identifies must haves as being Core to the city and until that is fully funded NO funds should be spent on anything else. When tax and fee revenue increases by 42% in 6 years and wages and benefits also increase 42% a major management style issue needs dealing with. Wages at City Hall going from $62 million to $90 million in that period is a real problem. There is an argument to be made for the fact taxes are not paying for services, they are just growing the bureaucracy.