The budget process used each year by city council and the CAO is always predictable ... the CAO prepares a preliminary budget with a tax increase. After much fuss and fanfare, they shave a few dollars from the budget with the final outcome always resulting in a tax increase nevertheless. Council then looks like a hero.
I am perplexed by how council and the CAO view the budget process. They have the view that there are only three options: 1) increase taxes; 2) reduce services; or 3) a combination of options 1 and 2. There is a fourth option: 4) maintain services with no tax increase. Most anyone can do more with less, so why doesn't the city of St. Albert give this consideration in the budget process? A hard and objective look at inefficiencies, redundant/ineffective programs and cost reductions that don't impact services (for example, compensation, benefits, outsourcing vs. in-house, etc., etc.) could easily result in no tax increase while maintaining services.
Council’s insistence there are only three options (tax increase, service reduction, or both) is self-serving. It absolves them of making the hard decisions of how to do more with less. If they are not sure how to maintain services without increasing taxes, I suggest they ask the taxpayers. I am sure taxpayers would identify many opportunities. This would be far more productive than repeatedly asking the taxpayer to choose between the two evils of increased taxes or reduction in services.
Don Schneider, St. Albert
