The provincial budget should be an eye opener to the mayor and council. Council has a spending problem, and to try and fix that their choice always is to raise taxes. The amount of taxes we pay here is ridiculous and council needs to realize this and make smart choices on what the taxpayer's dollars are spent on. Needs have to come first before wants are even considered. Yellow asparageese are not a need, fancy pedestrian crosswalks with brick/rock are not a need. so many things council wastes money on are not needs and the required maintenance and infrastructure get put off for months and months.
Mayor and council should take some classes on budgeting, responsible spending and when voters say no to a project it means NO, not maybe, so listening skills are required as well.
The average taxpayer (majority of the population I would guess) in St. Albert cannot afford more tax hikes, we are maxed out. So yes, projects will have to be put on hold until they are affordable and the Alberta economy recovers. It is not just the elite here that you should be listening too, it is all of us. Cutbacks are required, your employee numbers are higher than most other municipalities and what you think are needs are actually wants. Get it together council and realize the reality of your citizens in this provincially cash-strapped province.
J. Ritchie, St. Albert
