Fifty years ago, budgets were so tight, if something unexpected happened the fund had to be used.
I was a member of Council when the Aurora budget first broke a million. Long before municipalities were allowed to collect lot levies to cover every imaginable expense that might arise from growth.
Regions can do the same.
School Boards can do it too.
Which was when, in my judgement, greed took the upper hand and accountability disappeared.
Money flowed. Facilities sprouted like mushrooms. Financial control became a lost cause.
A new generation of politics never knew hardship.
The latest cash grab has the Province proposing to give municipalities authority to increase the land transfer tax to increase municipal revenues.
The trick is, municipal politicians would be accountable for increasing the tax and the province scoops up half the revenue with no political capital expended.
As I have said previously, no principles no conscience, no discipline, no accountability.
Once there is a precedent to use " contingency " funds. all those who follow will use it.
ReplyDeleteWe also have a council's discretionary fund which I think might be different. It allows personal little donations to pet causes of the moment.
And by the sounds of it government don't need receipts anymore either.
ReplyDeleteAurora would never increase that tax. We already pay more than the City. Which the Mayor claims is justifiable,
ReplyDelete11:18-Gotta disagree with you there. Part of the land transfer tax goes to the Region. Aurora is part of York Region. The Region is almost 3 Billion in debt. The Mayor who is our regional representative will not only raise it, but justify it as well.
ReplyDelete16:48
ReplyDeleteGave up on him when he was trumpeting Ibbetson's book.
16:48- With little Thom and municipal Perri backing him.
ReplyDelete