Re: "Council eyes tax hike to cover shortfall," The Gazette, June 16.
Just a glance at the headline was enough to provoke outrage in this cranky senior.
We built the first house in Erin Ridge, Phase 2, in 1989-90. There was nothing around – no hospital, and few businesses. Erin Ridge Road and Erin Ridge Drive were newly minted and only extended a few blocks north in the middle of a sea of mud. Not a tree in sight; barely a sidewalk.
We got a big surprise that June with the arrival of our tax assessment, which was around $3,200. Successive city councils and mayors defended the outrageous tax because there were no businesses to tax to lessen the burden of infrastructure development. They claimed taxes would be reduced once St. Albert had more business-tax revenue.
Fast forward 31 years. It's busy in St. Albert, with hundreds of established businesses and many big-box stores to contribute to the tax base. St. Albert has grown much from what it was back then.
Back to my outrage. Once again, the city has disappointed with the latest tax-assessment increase, now at $5,959 for my 2,500-square-foot, 31-year-old house. That's almost double from what the tax started out at and never once has it even held the line.
It must be all these essential pet projects that are devouring funds from city coffers, such as garishly coloured painted lines that thankfully faded from view after a few years, and concrete pinch-points along Erin Ridge Drive that are supposed to provide traffic calming.
I could go on, but it's time to keep your promises, St. Albert council.
Myron Sanderson, St. Albert
