First, council hires a company to complete a survey to determine what capital projects should be completed, and in what order. The problem was, participants were not able to select from a group of projects. The three projects were predetermined by council.
Next, the mayor and council use this tainted survey to justify their decision to complete all three capital projects in 2017. The mayor is quoted in the Gazette as saying: “Mayor Nolan Crouse said the survey results show that all three are priorities for the community. The community is saying to council we need them all.”
The proposed cost to complete all three projects is expected to be between $60 million and $90 million, given that costs could exceed initial estimates by 50% and still be considered to be within budget.
Taking into account the proposed tax increase of three per cent to cover higher operating expenses, and the nine to 12 per cent increase required to pay for just these three capital projects, property owners can expect taxes to increase between $450 and $600 a year.
But don't worry, the increase won't take effect until 2018, after the next civic election.
Norm Harley, St. Albert
