Tuesday's letters: Hefty tax bill due to spendthrift council

Published May 30, 2023  •  Last updated 4 hours ago  •  2 minute read

Edmonton City Council debates the 2023-2026 capital budget, Friday Dec. 9, 2022. Photo By David Bloom Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

I received my new tax bill for the next 12 months. Council must be going on an all-inclusive vacation this year. What was touted as a 4.9-per-cent tax hike, just became an 18-per-cent tax gouge. Yep, my tax bill is going up 18 per cent this year.

Our entire street fought our assessments when they came out months ago, and now we got this slap in the face today. This council is the most wasteful council I have seen in 25 years, and it is not over. We are going to be fed this same crock every year. Council keeps spending money and how do we know if it was budgeted or not. This band of spend-thrifts needs to rethink their budgeting process and stop paying for stuff the province is supposed to pay for, stop spending on bike lanes and rethink their priorities.

If this level of taxation keeps up, then my property tax will go up 225 per cent (roughly), in the next four years; that is over double what we are paying now. And by the way, my assessment went up only eight per cent. I don’t get this wound up about a lot of things, but people reaching into my bank account because they cannot budget properly is, in my eyes, theft.

Dave Rudichuk, Edmonton

On Friday, I drove north on 111 Street from 23 Avenue to 61 Avenue at 6:50 a.m. and got to stop at all but two traffic lights. I would like to commend the Edmonton transportation department for employing their traffic-calming measure of synchronizing those lights. I was able to calmly refocus my priorities preparing me for a long workday. I am glad that slowing down, idling at red lights, then speeding up again repeatedly does not emit additional greenhouse gases.

Synchronizing red lights in no way induces frustration, impatience, the desire to drive in such a way to beat the next red light (whatever that means), or act as a catalyst for annoyance, anger, and road rage. Kudos to city council and Edmonton transportation for adopting traffic policies to eliminate irritation and resentment in motor vehicle users.

Perhaps disgruntled drivers will abandon their cars and embrace the greater efficiencies of public transportation, especially for those whose jobs require regular travel around the city throughout the day.

Richard Garside, Edmonton

The sight of tent cities and cost overruns on provincial projects highlight the need for urgent change. Adopting community benefit agreements (CBAs) is crucial now. Examples from Cleveland, Columbus, and Manitoba demonstrate how CBAs uplift individuals out of poverty, offering them good-paying careers in construction.

When the government invests in projects, it should ensure broad benefits. CBAs provide apprenticeships for those in poverty, women, veterans, and underrepresented groups, leading to long-lasting success. The track record of CBAs speaks for itself, benefiting the public interest and creating positive change within communities.

Scott William Crichton, assistant business manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 424

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