The change of management last time around did not make a difference. Since then nothing much has altered - every year there is the same item to be debated last on the budget and it gets through with a flinch. The only way that things could be different would be if other groups banded together and demanded change. I do not see that happening now but the economy is a very real problem and council might be more flexible when the money just is not available for maintaining that particular " contract ".
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 April 2016 at 14:52
**************************************
The final sentence illustrates misunderstanding of the tax system.
No matter how bad the economy, money is always available to government.
To give money or benefits to this group or that to improve chances in the next election, taxes are increased to accommodate that purpose.
While the majority pay no attention or misunderstand the tax system, or benefit from taxes, Councils pick our pockets with impunity.
Development charges are not found money . New property owners pay the freight with a few notable exceptions recently in Aurora.
In the last term, St Andrew's College were privileged to obtain a building permit for a new facility without paying development charges.
Friends of the rich and powerful, the boys in the band, made the dispensation available.
In the previous term Queen's York Rangers obtained at town cost, custom-designed new digs without paying Development charges.
To add insult to injury, the Department of National Defence unloaded a contaminated shack occupying town property for more than a century , at a cost to taxpayers in excess of half a million dollars.
Sleight of hand in putting newly renovated facilities into the hands of an incorporated board also escaped development charges for the benefit of special interest.
All the while, an elected Council held responsibility to protect us from such insurgency.
Development charges are a queer beast. They are not found money. The principle is for new housing to pay for facilities required to service growth and avoid increasing the tax burden.
Relentless property tax increases, despite new revenue,put the lie to the principle.
Development charges increase every five years.
Another double whammy.
Posts
8 comments:
Please explain how/why development charges would be applied to a renovated Town-owned building?
Yes, it is comical hearing the Mayor blame development charges by the Region for our having no hotel.
I think it more likely that there is no viable base to justify building one. Developers look elsewhere, like maybe for a university town.
What hotel chain would build in Aurora? There is nothing for anyone to stay here for. Except the Cultural Centre.
15:34
The Cultural Centre? Your kidding right?
I went to go see my nephews hockey tournament in January at the ACC. Hockey teams from all over Ontario were here. They were all at the Holiday Inn, Best Western, Comfort Inn and Newmarket Inn. They were going to Upper Canada Mall in between their games, and of course making dinner arrangements in Newmarket as well. Sport tournaments are definitely a draw for the hotel industry. I certainly hope the Town doesn't use the Cultural Centre as a draw for any potential hotel prospect. That would be embarrassing.
17:58
That had to be a joke about staying here for Culture Center activities. We all know there is no draw there. It would't take a possible investor long to suss that out.
17:58 & 9:14>>>> don't be so sure of yourselves.
Oh, 07:24, let them wallow in their ignorance.
Yup, I can just see it now...Tour buses stopping off bus loads of people from the airport at the Town owned Hotel for those only visiting the Centre.
Post a Comment