By Garrett Zehr
No reduction in services and no increased user fees is the message that Somerset Ward residents want Coun. Diane Holmes to take to city council when she votes on this year’s city budget.
Residents packed the ward public consultation last week for the 2007 budget. They were adamant that they are opposed to freezing the tax rate if it means a reduction of services or an increase in user fees.
“I can’t reiterate how destructive this would be,” Aileen Leo, chairperson of the Somerset West Community Health Centre, told the meeting.
City staff prepared two budget options for city council to vote on by the end of this month. The first option would see no increase in taxes, a key part of the election platform of Mayor Larry O’Brien. This would only be possible with substantial cuts to programs and increases in user fees.
The second option allows for a tax increase at the rate of inflation, which is 1.7 per cent. Most services and user fees would remain at their current level.
Residents at the meeting unanimously supported the second option and voiced their disapproval at the very notion of a
tax-frozen budget.
“It’s coming to zero per cent on the backs of people who can least afford it,” said resident Meg Hamilton, adding that because this year’s proposed budget was so troubling, it was particularly important for residents to voice their concerns.
Holmes agreed that the public’s involvement is crucial. “I think it’s very important. It’s a challenge for the residents to know enough, but the media is pretty good at getting some of the topics out there,” she said in an interview.
Increased costs for things such as recreation fees are one area that many residents are particularly concerned about. “User fees have a dreadful impact on low-income people,” said Leo.
She also voiced her concern about the proposed option of “gapping” city jobs. The process would require the delay of hiring new city employees to replace those who have left their jobs. Holmes also opposes the idea because she worries that city services would be compromised.
Public transit was another issue that many residents felt strongly about. The proposed budget suggests a few different transit cost-cutting initiatives.
One option is to increase transit fares by nine per cent instead of the 7.5-per-cent hike to come into effect this summer.
Another is to restrict the student bus pass to those under 20, an option rejected by many at the meeting.
Holmes said she also opposes both of these measures because they are poor environmental decisions and would affect the people who need income relief the most.
“People who use transit should be rewarded and those who use cars should be punished.”
In an earlier interview, Holmes said she will vote according to the concerns she heard at the meeting.
“I’m not going to get down to zero if it means serious cuts to the services that my residents want.They don’t want the budget balanced on the backs of the poor.”