Changes in Toronto welcome

For many years Toronto politicians have failed to balance budgets and raise taxes, giving many people out here a sense that we pay disproportionately high rates for our property taxes.

Truth be told, we likely do pay more than is needed. Between programming, handsome pay grids plus benefits and a culture of entitlement, there is plenty of room for easing the burden on taxpayers. For far too long Toronto has been held out as an example of a compelling low tax rate - far cheaper than country or small-town living.

That example has been misleading for a number of reasons, the least of which is the fact that the city was not covering its bills, relying on the province to prop up its budgets.

Now, it would seem, the fee hikes for everything from false fire alarms, parking tickets, recreation user fees and parking fees will add to the 4% residential tax hike to square things away. That is of course, just the beginning to deal with a decade of imprudent management that has lulled city folks into a false sense of financial security.

What we find most amusing is now that Mayor David Miller is moving on and will not need votes for the election this fall, some sense of reality is taking hold.

Providing services costs money.