I was disappointed to read that, once again, our taxes will need to go up at a suggested rate of 1.5 per cent for the next 20 years to support old and new infrastructure.
It is high time we get realistic and, like many other municipalities in the current economic times, we start charging user fees for our amenities.
We need to look at paid parking, especially during the farmers' market. We should charge user fees for the spray park, skateboard park, and the botanical gardens.
We can no longer afford for Edmonton and surrounding area residents to use our facilities without some kind of user fee. We can no longer afford this generosity.
Falling in line with the recent announcement that parking will no longer be free at some City of Edmonton attractions and user fees are being implemented, it is time for St. Albert to follow suit.
This action is never popular, but homeowners can no longer afford to continue to subsidize these venues. Since previous councils dropped the ball, we must look at alternative ways, whether popular or not, to generate the revenue to protect and sustain our infrastructure.
Sherri Green, St. Albert
