Th Financial plan was the question . I had the floor. I was making the point that the Municipal Act does not permit municipalities to budget a surplus or deficit.
The town's financial year is from Jan.1st until Dec.31.
The principle is that municipalities , having only one area of taxation, will tax to raise sufficient funds to cover the cost of providing services for a period of twelve months.
I cited the "tax stabilisation reserve " as a means of collecting more taxes needed in one year to reduce taxes in future years.
It means property owners living in the town in 2013 pay to create a slush fund to be used in future years to reduce taxes.
I disagree completely with the policy.
Councillor Pirri enjoined the debate and, through the Mayor , asked a question of the Town Solicitor.
He stated that I was arguing the Municipal Act does not allow municipalities to create reserve funds . That reserve funds are against the law.
On a point of order, I objected to the town solicitor being brought into a political debate to refute
my opposition to a specific tax item.
No matter, the Mayor directed the solicitor answer the question.
The Solicitor's answer was the Municipal Act permits municipalities to create reserve funds.
And so it does and has always done.
My point related to a specific fund under the heading of "tax stabilisation" and to this Council's
accountability for the four year term and specifically for the level of taxation in each twelve month budget period.
With the help of the presiding member, Councillor Pirri was successful in obscuring the issue.
The debate ended , I thought somewhat to my disadvantage and frustration.
There was no furtrher opportunity for rejoinder.
But that's where blog is such a boon.
In my capacity of spokesperson for people who pay taxes, I contend the municipality has no business
collecting taxes fronm today's property owners, to provide relief to those who may or may not come after.
There is no equity in such a policy. Giving the fund an officious sounding title does not change it from what it is; an unjust tax.
The very thing that Councillors are elected to protect us from.
We are accountable to people who live here now not people who may or may not live here ten years from now.
We should pay what it costs for services rendered in the current year.
Future residents should do the same.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
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15 comments:
Creating a line item in the budget and earmarking funds in advance to create the dollars is definitely wrong. If costs are lower than budgeted for then this would be a good place to put the surplus. But it seems that if this budget is going to be underspent, next years budget gets protected by consuming the difference before year end.
I heard you loud & clear. But you were speaking to those who will not/ cannot hear. I'm not sure if councillor Pirri really understands taxes .And that is not a crack at his age or living arrangements. Just an observation. When would he have opened any of those envelopes?
Let Council sell the equivalent of War Bonds. Those who wish to invest may do so. Others can take a pass on them.
The rookies aren't rookies anymore.
11:02 There is also no front line. They all play defence.
Municipal Councils, provincial legislatures and the federal Parliament are all elected and accountable to those who did the dastardly deed.
Taxes are raised to provide for the needs and wants of society and must be done in a responsible and transparent way; likewise the expenditure of these moneys.
There are too many games being played today by both those elected and the staffs that serve them.
If you go back in history you will find numerous instances of irresponsible taxation leading to riot, revolution and the loss of one or more royal heads.
We might be approaching the "riot" stage.
Those in charge had better pay close attention because it doesn't take long to get to the third.
"We might be approaching the "riot" stage..."
We're not even at the decent voter turnout stage.
13:05, however, is at the ridiculous hyperbole stage.
Voter apathy has got us in its clutch.
So now we turn to the Federal Police Force and Auditor General to determine if we are getting fair value for our money and if any crimes have been committed by those who are supposed to be our servants.
When I think about all those Senators [ not just the obvious 4 ], it recalls a quote. Maybe from Woody Allen?
" If you want God to laugh, tell him about your plans."
For any councillor or Mayor to even entertain this idea....doesn't want to be councillor or Mayor for very much longer.
17:37
I agree with you but have to point out that there was a majority decision on Council. Not much can be done that I can see. The road has been selected.
To 15:20
You must live a protected existence. Do you not have access to other Blogs for comparison purposes ?
Caught between a rock & a hard place. Aurorans do not want to encourage the bullies either.
Like I said, 18:57, look at voter turnout numbers. Using blogs as any sort of barometer for at large local sentiment is a form of "protected existence" - one protected from reality. The sample size of blog commenters is negligible in relation to the total of eligible voters.
Sure, blogs may be important to you, and you can get worked up about issues, but most of your fellow residents are oblivious.
21:49
You mean like all the national polls before elections? Normally I would agree with you but experience in Aurora has taught us otherwise. How can you generalize about what ' most of your fellow residents ' may be feeling or thinking ? I sure don't know except by talking and listening to them. Which I try to do.
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