This virus has impacted everyone, and is going to financially impact families, employees (now unemployed), businesses, governments, municipalities for a long time how long no one knows at this time.
I have been in correspondence with the city council in regard to perhaps a temporary decrease in property taxes. It was explained that the city is going to be facing a loss so that would not be feasible. Understandably, yes, but at this point I would hope the city has no intention of raising property taxes to cover the loss. A lot of taxpayers based on the recent events will be having a hard time putting food on the table, paying mortgages, utilities, etc.
At this time, I would urge council to put on hold any projects that are wants, not needs. Look at what they currently fund and decide what is necessary and what isn't. It is coming down to humanitarian issues, not what big ticket items should be committed to.
Businesses are closed and a lot of them won't be able to reopen, which will result in a lot of people being unemployed, which could turn into mortgages and bills not being paid and the worst case scenario, bankruptcies will rise – and those people who lose their homes certainly won't be paying property taxes.
It is a bleak outlook but it is the new reality, unfortunately, and it is worldwide. I cannot see waking up June 1 and everything will have returned to normal; it is going to take a long time for semi-normal to return.
So I ask the city to not make the taxpayers responsible for filling the loss void. See where you can cut as a city and maintain the important things like infrastructure etc. Be responsible in your decisions on where money is going to be allocated and remember it is the people that make a city, not city council. It is time for council to step up and help to ease the financial pressures that people are under these days.
J. Ritchie
St. Albert
