"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 8 November 2015

A FEATURE OF MODERN TIMES OR LACK THEREOFF

Before we move on from the budget discussion, I should make it clear, municipalities were always  encouraged to budget funds to replace equipment. 

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. 

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Once there is a precedent to use " contingency " funds. all those who follow will use it.
We also have a council's discretionary fund which I think might be different. It allows personal little donations to pet causes of the moment.

Anonymous said...

And by the sounds of it government don't need receipts anymore either.

Anonymous said...

Aurora would never increase that tax. We already pay more than the City. Which the Mayor claims is justifiable,

Anonymous said...

11:18-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.

Anonymous said...

16:48
Gave up on him when he was trumpeting Ibbetson's book.

Anonymous said...

16:48- With little Thom and municipal Perri backing him.