If a waiver of fees from the Town of Aurora had not been granted they would have raised $143.350
Would the difference be a poor reflection on community support for the event? I don't think so.
When all those who made the event an outstanding success were being named ,Steve Hinder, who initially created the event to honour a friend who died prematurely and whom he admired tremendously, had a lengthy list.
Aurora council was not named for voting to waive user fees.Nor were Aurora taxpayers, in whose name the grant was provided. In terms of the final figure, the assistance was miniscule.It represented no effort at all on the part of councillors. No generosity was reflected. No compassion. Not when you 're putting your hand in someone else's pocket.
Yet, in principle, as it relates to the town's obligation to maintain equity among users of town facilities,it does matter.It matters a lot.
Organisations using recreation facilities are mostly parents striving to provide offspring with opportunities to round out their lives. They too engage in fund-raising events to keep costs down make sure no child is excluded because of cost. I don't think that happens. But they try.
In calculating fees, the town also strives to meet that objective. Opportunities to generate revenue are sought to subsidise user fees. Loss of revenue from fees waived are a contradiction in terms.
Any statement of principle about equity and fairness in the face of fees waived for special interests is a scam against the public consciousness.
It's a bold-faced lie. It's a fraud. It is shameless exploitation of public trust
In my judgment,there was nothing of merit in any decision to waive user fees. It made no difference to the success of the event. Not enough even to get a mention.
It's the reason politicians are held in such disrepute.
So transparent for what it is, it earns no respect, even from recipients.
Polo for Heart in Gormley will be back for its 32nd year in June. Last year they raised $240,000.
If the A&B Courier Run is an indication, the community will generously double funds previously contributed in support of the event.
Polo For Heart could also request a grant of $650 from the municipality to be paid from taxation and expect it to be granted. They never have. How appropriate would that be?
Yet the funds they raise come from the same source, for the same cause.
Some food for thought to those who like to give out our tax dollars to these events.
ReplyDeleteThere are many of these events all year long. We, the public, can make out choices to donate to a cause we feel is worthy of our money and as a reward we can even get a tax receipt to use for income tax purposes. If you give enough you get a better benefit. If the town gives on our behalf we get NOTHING! No tax receipt not even recognition. So someone please tell me what is the point in me paying my property taxes, paying uses fees and then letting my elected representatives give MY money over to such events, especially when these events make such huge amounts of money. If they paid the user fee would have made that big a difference to the very huge amount of money they make? NO! NO! NO! Keep my tax dollars to keep the grass in the parks cut, keep my tax dollars so that I can continue to enjoy all that this wonderful town has to offer! I will make the decision on where my donation money, if I have it to donate,will go and Council can keep their hands out of my pockets!!!
To Anonymous May 31 @ 8:36
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you say. There are many of us who have been singing the same song about this topic but unfortunately nobody seems to be listening - especially those with hands in our pockets.
I guess they continue to take us for fools.
For some reason, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya keep coming to mind when I think of this sort of behaviour.
"I guess they continue to take us for fools.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya keep coming to mind when I think of this sort of behaviour."
Comparing anything that happens in this town to the events of the Arab Spring is beyond foolish. Please spare us the ridiculous hyperbole.