Budget- delegation from a Citizen - Mr. Baker
As you all know I have been busy with my Mother and her living arrangements. When her house is sold I will be back to my regular self and be more plugged into what is happening but in the mean time I am relying on others. The following is a copy of what was read out at the General Governmental Committee Meeting on February 1st.
Report To: Council
Submitted By: Michael Baker
Subject: 2010 Budget
Date: February 1, 2010
My name is Michael Baker. My family & I moved to Ajax in 2003. In 2004 our tax bill was $4202. Since 2006 our tax bill has increased from a high of $4,753.25 to an even higher $5,192.35 in 2009.
The budget document contains two reports from staff to Council. I trust that the final approved budget will also contain a report from Council to the voters of Ajax explaining why you approved the budget.
I believe the people of Ajax deserve a budget with no tax rate increase.
I am reminded by Mr. Skinner in his report to Council that this is yet another Town Budget that lacks any formal input from the people of Ajax. Members of Council refuse to hold public community meetings in each Ward well before the fact so that all voters may have an opportunity to be informed & to provide input re the budget nor is there an opportunity provided by our elected members of Council for public input to our elected representatives that can be communicated either via the Town’s website or the personal website of each member of Council.
Mr. Ford tells us in his report to Council that significant economic recovery will be much slower & longer than traditionally experienced. The members of Council will receive in 2010 increases to their salary & travel allowances & yet they refuse to publish their job descriptions or provide work plans or publish newsletters or communicate to their constituents via their personal websites in order to keep the voters informed & up-to-date as to their performances on our behalf on matters such as the Town’s budget.
People can read that Council provides a formalized budget wish list but we as voters have no such opportunity to do likewise.
In these very difficult economic times we are being presented with a budget that identifies bicycle lanes, trail maintenance projects, the construction of 8 new trails, customer polling & a new resident’s guide as being, according to Mr. Skinner, as “key projects”. I disagree!
The Town of Ajax benefits greatly from the Slots at Ajax Downs & especially from its revenues - as much as $6,090,400 in 2010. The expanded casino will increase the revenues for Ajax for years to come. Council should be consulting regularly with the voters of Ajax as to how this money should be spent.
Without consultation Council wants us to believe that in these difficult economic times that there is an immediate need for a Public Art Reserve & a Bikeway Reserve Fund & that these needs are as important now as the need for road maintenance & the construction of sidewalks. Without consultation Council wants to fund the hiring of 9 new full-time staff positions without directly explaining to the taxpayers why these positions are necessary. Council fails to explain why the budget of the Office of the CAO needs to be increased by $98,000 or why $50,000 is needed for a Public Art Reserve or why at this time $17,500 is needed to fund a New Sustainable Forest Cover Educational Outreach Program & a new Trailfest program & for the printing of promotional brochures or why the Litter Pick-Up Budget needs to be increased by $89,600 to a total of $362,500 or why more money is being spent to cut down all the weeds that have replaced the grass that once grew on Town boulevards or why we need at this time an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan at a cost of $100,000 {How many people have any idea what this is about?} or why at this time $450,000 is needed for a Greenwood Pedestrian Bridge Replacement or why at this time over $1.3 million is being spent on new Trails when Ajax has far greater present needs?
I think that it’s about time that all members of Council explain to the voters of Ajax why you will not consult with us on matters such as the budget & why this Council is unwilling & unable to pass a budget with no tax increase.
Michael Baker
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There you have it, he certainly did his homework and agree or disagree with some of his choices he knows his numbers.I like trails and I like other things too but we all have to tighten our belt in these times but it seems like we are just trudging along like nothing is happening economically with the taxpayers . We have a target of reducing the tax rate increases but that is not the same as working towards a year off or two from increases.
Regarding the Casino, I hate to say it but I do feel that a small portion should go to the Region for the unseen social costs that we all pay, maybe .5% to the Region.
Transit service is the GO bus , no shelter is provided for the passengers that make the trek down the long road. When a passenger gets on the GO bus with a prepaid Durham ticket or pass the Region is paying the difference between the Durham fare and the Go fare to GO Transit.
The Casino sits on a local road that feeds to a Regional Road that is cleared of snow and eventually will be widened, maybe that is when the Transit customers will get a shelter to stand in.
I would like to see more detailed line item expenses, yes why does the CAO’s office need an increase of $98,000 , this is where AMO is paid from and all the other associations we are members of.
Comments welcome and encouraged.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:26 pm
I certainly can’t argue with Michael. He’s bang on. It was the same comedy last year with St Francis DeSales…(whooops!! another boondoggle that, surprise surprise, was under estimated so I better get my wallet out).
I now am that very citizen that council seems to want. I’ve long since thrown my hands up because apathy is preferable to giving a rat’s ass. Council aren’t and never have been interested in our input. We’re just the lowly people that elected them and we’re obviously not educated enough for them and their (usually) socialist sensibilities.
As for the slots revenues, get ready for this cause it’s gonna shock you, I agree with the mayor. Yep, I said it. Despite the untold damage he has done in the area of Ajax/Durham Region relations over the years, he’s bang on on this one.
There are a number of reasons for this. The Region claims that there is a cost to policing, transportation, EMT and social programs due to the casino but are unable to quantify these in any way. “Strike One” If you can’t put a number to it don’t come ask us for money.
About a year and a half ago, Mike Ewles held a public forum in Ajax on policing. At that meeting he stated that Oshawa consumes a disproportionate amount of the police budget (I believe the number he used was 53%). If councillor Henry from Oshawa would like something to be “fair and equitable” I think he needs to start at home. Should the citizens of Oshawa’s share of the police budget on their tax bill be increased on a per capita basis because Oshawa certainly doesn’t make up 53% of our population. Furthermore, one need only take a drive through the downtown core of whitby on a Friday or Saturday night to see the inordinate amount of police presence there with the high concentration of bars. I have NEVER seen that sort of concentration of police anywhere in Ajax. “Strike two”
I assume that the Slots at Ajax Downs and the race track pay a property tax bill. I’d assume that that bill is based on assessed value of the property that they continue to improve with the addition of a thoroughbred racetrack. This, by nature, increases revenue to the region. Furthermore, as I understand it, a portion of all revenues from the OLG go into a fund for social programs for problem gambling. If the Region need to get there hands on some of that then go talk to Dalton McGuinty not us. “Strike three” Keep your hands out of our wallets
February 4th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Does anyone know what these 9 jobs are supposed to be?
Karem: I will check but I believe it is to do with grass cutting and park type jobs. Apply for sure!
February 5th, 2010 at 12:50 am
Both Mr. Baker and Mr. Johnson make extremely valid points.
I believe that consultation is important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is accountability.
For SM and Karem: The full listing of new positions with “justifications” is at: http://townofajax.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=8336
The first listed is interesting considering the $100,000 in next year’s budget for a re-design of the Town website.
Karem: Thanks, I did not know about the re-design of the Town website, ! It already has been revamped , why do we need to redesign it again???? I guess it is time for a new logo to provide stimulus to the stationary firms.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:48 am
can’t reach kim dowds using email address given on town’s website …. that’s not good
I will look when get home but I emailed her from it but don’t remember the address , are you clicking the link directly?
February 6th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Michael:
It may be the underscore that is the issue in my email address: kim_dowds@yahoo.com
This new email address will also work: info@kimdowds.ca (could not set up until after my papers were in).
Thanks for pointing this out. I will ask the town to update the email address next week.
Best, Kim