Toronto's User Fees

A terse report in the Star today notes user fees in Toronto for recreation facilities will be increased by $23 million.

The new Mayor's objective is zero increase in property taxes.

We can't afford to take our eyes of the megalopolis.Not since the Province loaded surrounding regions with the cities social costs.

York Region's annual share was $79 million.

David Miller was quoted that people from the Regions were recipients of the city's social programs,

It wasn't true. It was a lie,I tell you A big fat lie. Anyone applying for social assistance in a municipality must have an address within the municipality.

At the same time, Miller's  boast the city paid less taxes than neighbouring municipality just rubbed salt. It took several years for the province to reverse that gross inequity and even  the city slickers  had to be weaned.

Most of the jabberwocky was at the regional level. Sufficiently distant from grass roots not to have a sufficient impact.

In the past, yells of outrage would have bounced against Queen's Parks stone walls and echoed back in growing strength until justice was restored.

I myself thought of leading a Rebellion down Yonge Street with pikes and hay forks.

We can't relate Toronto's user fee increase to our own circumstances.Many facilities and programs are or have been free in the city.

But we can certainly relate to budget pressures.

This year, we will see a three point increase in the budget due to new firefighters being hired, trained, equipped and accommodated. It's part of the agreement signed when Aurora and Newmarket amalgamated fire services. Our share of cost is forty per cent.

The requirement represents a huge challenge for the new council. Hard choices to be made. People struggling with family finances will need to pay more attention than ever to help council make the right decisions.

You can't just sit back and wait for the announcement of a tax increase to complain

Aurora invites participation in the process.

So...Come on down... we  need all the help we can get.