Mike Cluett
Mike Cluett’s Milton Blog

A number of friends have sent me an email to let me know about a letter to the Milton Canadian Champion editorial department which was printed in the paper. Thanks to everyone who noticed.

The letter is pretty much word for word what my last posting talked about and I’ve received a number of emails from people all over the town supporting my thoughts. What seems to get me the most is that there doesn’t seem to be a sense of urgency on council to say “Hey…this is wrong. We need to fix this now!”

Some councillors in the past have been very vocal about what council is doing with budgets and spending. Where are the voices now?

There haven’t been many voices on council talking about this. After this story was printed I had expected to read a few responses from councillors around the table with their views on the potential increase. Nothing.

Another week passes… still nothing. Why is the question? Why wouldn’t these individuals, trusted by the votes of Milton residents for a four year period NOT want to say something? Why isn’t there any outrage or a showing of concern at the impact this potential (and some would say inevitable) tax increase on people in Milton.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that things aren’t going swimmingly for our economy, and those of our neighbours to the south the United States. Gas is at all-time highs and bouncing up and down on a weekly basis, putting incredible pressure on our budgets. The cost of food is increasing for many items in the store which lead to a further tightening of the belts. It just seems no one cares. It’s all going to work itself out and the council will accept whatever town staff dishes out.

Some councillors in the past like Paul Schere and Colin Best (among others) have been very vocal about what council is doing with the budgets, spending and other programs. Where are the voices now?

Is this catastrophic? Will this lead us down into the depths of dispair? Not likely. From an email I received last week, I was told I was being a bit too melodramatic with the potential impact of high municipal tax increases. 

Not so, because the Town is just one portion of the tax bill.

Continue reading on Mike Cluett’s Milton Blog

Mike Cluett
Mike Cluett’s Milton Blog

I was having a coffee at Tim Horton’s recently when a self professed “old timer” in Milton walked up to me to say hello.  Apparently he remembered me from the campaign way back in 2006 and he wanted to say hello.  In his hand was the Milton Canadian Champion with the headline “HEFTY TAX HIKE COULD BE COMING!”

At last Monday’s council meeting, Town Staff put forward their recommendation for almost a 10% increase in taxes to cover “needed” expenditures for the fiscal year 2009.  As its been said here on this blog, here we go again.

We talked about the same things last year. Town Staff recommended close to an 8% increase and we came out with less than that but still a pretty hefty increase of around 6%.  Looks like history is repeating itself or as a neighbour mentioned, broken record. 

The mindset of the municipal government seems to be year to year instead of long term

Now this increase isn’t written in stone.  Council still has to have some public meetings to discuss these recommendations and pass the final budget in December of this year.  Just like the gentleman I spoke with at Tim Horton’s said, and many other conversations with other Miltonians I have had over the last couple of years… when is it all going to end?

Looking back on the people who ran for council back in 2006, there were many people who ended up being elected saying that they would do their “best” to keep Milton taxes low.  Judging from the responses we heard at the council meeting, it seems those individuals should check their campaign literature, as well as their constituents.  Last years budget meeting was long on the wind and short on the “doing their best” to keep taxes low.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t have an increase.  This town is growing rapidly and needs funds to keep up with the demands for infrastructure and programs.  I’m not saying the town should never increase taxes.  But after last years increase of over 6% (1% of that ended up being the equivalent of their pay increase, after only a year on the job) you would think they might have done some “forward” thinking for the future.

The mindset of the municipal government seems to be year to year instead of long term.  Can they honestly justify last year’s increase coupled with potentially this year’s increase and say that its a good thing?

No one spoke out at the meeting about the increase but they did make some comments to the Champion afterwards.  Ward 4 Councillor Wendy Schau, who has in the past voted for many increases (including salary) said the increase “should be avoided, it at all possible.”  Should be avoided?  Avoided like the plague mind you… strong words indeed from Councillor Schau (sarcasm intended)

Where’s the leadership on council?  Oh yeah, I forgot, its not an election year.

Ward 3 Councillor Jan Mowbray was non-committal on what to do with the increase.  As the time draws closer she stated that she’ll do her homework on the numbers.  She did make mention that the tax increase “seems high.” 

Outside of the comment from the Mayor, we havent heard from many of the councillors on this.  I know its the summer and so far its only a recommendation of an increase by town staff but even THEY have to see that people are going to start to get frustrated.  The town seems to be spending money like drunken sailors and there doesnt seem to be any benefits coming from it.  Three million dollars on new buses for our transit system when many of them are riding empty most of the day.  Did we REALLY need to spend that money NOW?  Could we have gotten by on the smaller buses until demand began to outgrow the supply?

The Town of Milton ran a contest several months ago about the new transit buses.  It was find a bus and take a picture of it (or something like that) and subit to the town and win a prize.  I would say it would be harder contest if you had to take a picture of a Milton Transit bus with ANY passengers on it.

Stay tuned to my blog for more information on when public meetings are to be held on the budget process.  Although many of you have told me this would be an exercise in futility, I would suggest you contact your local councillor and let them know that more increases just wont do.  As always, they will come out and say its “only going to be X dollars more per year.”  Add that X with last year’s X and you get a much higher number.

If they could come to us with a reasonable increase, it would be easier to take.  An increase comparable with todays rate of inflation will be a lot more palatable to taxpayers.  Instead they see money being thrown around with no long term vision to the future.  I know this year’s budget is very important, especially as the town grows.  Anyone who has ever talked with a financial advisor knows that you have to keep an eye to the future and the impacts of the decisions you make now.  

It doesn’t seem like that thought is on the radar whatsoever.

Continue reading on Mike Cluett’s Milton Blog