Your editorial on Jan. 30 suggested that the city was starved for growth and that the city should facilitate it. I can’t imagine what growth you are referring to.
Since we moved to St. Albert in 1976, the population has increased almost three-fold. According to information from city hall and the St. Albert Taxpayers Association, from 2002 to 2008, the population increased 10 per cent, residential taxes increased 85 per cent, user fees (mostly utilities) increased 94 per cent, city expenditures increased 104 per cent and debt increased 178 per cent.
These changes in growth components are alarming to taxpayers who bear the burden. Taxes and user fees are increasing at unsustainable rates and therefore expenditures must be reduced drastically. The recent 14.2 per cent (6.7 per cent on top of seven per cent) increase in salaries of firefighters is one example of irresponsible increases in a recessionary period with low inflation. Did our administration grant them or was there a vote by council?
A consultant is given $30,000 to find places where the city can reduce carbon. City administration must make such decisions and not give plush contracts to do their work. Of the current council only Len Bracko and Gareth Jones seem to have any sense of fiscal responsibility. The mayor now talks along those lines but expenditures have increased considerably during his reign.
At the next election in October, taxpayers of St. Albert must focus on candidates that promise to reduce expenditures and reduce tax increases to the rate of inflation.
Don Thomas, St. Albert
