It was with a faint glimmer of optimism that I read last week in the Gazette that St. Albert council was able to pare down the proposed municipal tax increase to 3.6 per cent. However as I read through the article it became apparent that the increase was in part held to 3.6 per cent by increasing the franchise fees to 25 per cent that it collects on our energy bills.
So, decreasing our property tax increase to 3.6 per cent involved increasing the city's income from another source that we pay for on our energy bills.
Reminds me of the old confidence shell game also known as thimblerig, where you try to follow the shell that has the hidden pea.
So we need to pay attention and keep your eye on the shell that you think has the pea while we still manage to get the money from your pocket.
Rob Pritchard, St. Albert
