Thanks to the St. Albert Taxpayers Association for the election forum where we had a chance to listen and question candidates. I came away feeling informed about my choices for council.
The main concerns pervading the forum were high taxes and needless spending. Some concerns include Riel Park development, the downtown area redevelopment plan and Grain Elevator Park. One example of rampant spending is the $14 million being allocated to Grain Elevator Park, which includes $1.7 million to renovate the elevators. Then there is Ray Gibbon Drive and of course, Servus Credit Union Place (which was supposed to include a football field but taxpayers ended up paying $12 million for that). And those statues.
A council member, James Burrows, spoke defending the spending of $14 million on Grain Elevator Park, saying that we must leave a legacy for our children. What about a legacy of no debt, manageable taxes and the ability to own a home in St. Albert.
When does becoming a politician mean losing all sense of reality? When does it mean that your ego takes over and power goes to your head? When does the arrogance creep in? When does it mean that you all of a sudden know more than the masses and do not have to listen? I read letters to the editor and many ideas suggested are excellent. Council should include some of these ideas in discussions.
We need a city council that listens to reason, one that does not rubber-stamp everything presented to it. We need a council that is fiscally responsible where needs and wants are prioritized. We need a council to cool it and take a breath to review spending.
Spending is out of control and not sustainable in St. Albert. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business has rated St. Albert as the fifth worst out of 18 municipalities for a measure called the Fiscal Sustainability Gap. Council repeatedly states that St. Albertans do not want services cut. But there is plenty to cut before that happens, I’m sure. We love the trails, green spaces parks, library, and of course, infrastructure repair. Services for the majority is what we want.
If the present council is returned it will be frightening to continue along the path we have been on. Don’t be one who has their head in the sand — some elderly on fixed incomes are suffering, young people cannot afford to live here. Taxes will get higher. I just can’t see myself paying $10,000 in taxes on the house I live in. My pension will never cover it. Salaries will never increase that much. We cannot live in our own little world and not pay attention to what is happening around us because we are comfortable. If we do and it’s our time to need help, who will be left to answer the call?
When considering who to vote for, please do not go by name recognition. Vote for a candidate who will be effective and fiscally responsible and is their own person, not a puppet.
Oh, and I should not have to pay a user fee for garbage or recycling — my taxes should cover this.
L. Hennigar, St. Albert
