"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Sunday, 25 September 2011

And Another Thing

Source of funding for the snow storage site and treatment facility is  recommended from development charges.  The report claims it can be attributed to new growth.

Whether or not a project qualifies for development charge  funding is the responsibility of the Director of Finance.

I contend it does not.

New areas of town have storm water retention ponds.

Streets have boulevards to store snow until it melts. If there is salt in the snow, boulevards would not be green in Spring.

Besides that, only streets in the old  area of town are so narrow, there is no place to store snow when there  is an accumulation. That has nothing whatsoever to do with new growth.

Our development charges are among he highest in the GTA. They are in excess of $30.Ks.Politicians and municipal  administrations love them. They are found money.

They are required to be  paid  at the time a building permit is issued. They  reflect in the price of the home.

The price of the home is the basis for property  assessment. Which is the measurement for the amount of taxes to be paid. Taxes are paid on taxes forever and a day. They impact the down payment and the mortgage

They drive both parents out to work to provide shelter for their families and children are raised in institutional day care from a year old.

The new homebuyer is not aware of the inequity.

The municipal councillor most certainly is or should be.

Just because a taxpayer is unaware of  inequity,  is not a reason to perpetrate injustice.

It is a shame and a disgrace.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you can find time,reead Ian Binnie's interview inthe Globe.

Anonymous said...

You are right on the Money with this one , these charges are simply tacked on to the price of a new home , condo or place of business,

Anonymous said...

Ian will be sorely missed on the Court. Brains and a
sense of humour, a rare combination in legal
circles.