I read with great displeasure that the County of Wellington is proposing a budget increase of 3.2% in 2015. With a further comment that county councilors were presented with a draft of a five-year plan that would see tax increases range from 3.4 to 3.9% annually (by the way these are cumulative increases). These proposed figures are between one-and-a-half to double the rate of inflation which has been running about 2% for a number of years. Now I know we aim high and let the public say whoa we dodged a bullet when you come in lower.
If you read any newspaper you will know that: the top earners are doing OK and actually they received a modest increase, the middle income earners have seen wages plateaued 2008 – 2014 levels with almost no increase and the poor are poorer than the have been since 2008. Some have suggested the middle earners salaries have stagnated for more years than that. The economy is uncertain at best with Ontario for the first time ever being declared a “have not” status for provincial equalization payments.
My guess is that Wellington isn’t any different than the province of Ontario other than the Liberal government squandering multi-billions of dollars in a number of fiascos we all know about too. So why would seven Mayors and nine councilors not rebel at the mention of a budget that is going to penalize everyone except the very rich? Maybe they have and we haven’t heard yet? These are learned men that we have trusted to do what is best for the constituency inclusive of not just listing what has been downloaded to them from other levels of government. Every person, every business every manager knows that extraordinary budgeting cuts have had to be made just to stay in business. Times are tough and may might get tougher.
Not sure at all how you can justify an increase of: 3.7% (2015), 4.8 (2016) and 4.5% (2017) as mentioned in
Wellington 2015 Budget and 2015-2019 Five Year Plan. The scenario I used is the lowest listed in the document. The lowest estimate is a 13 % increase over three years or $568. Approximately 13% more than the average rate payer will receive as raises in those three years.
Ladies and gentlemen on council you have a duty to understand that 80% of the levy is from residential taxes and 54% of my taxes are attributed to the County. So you have the most impact in controlling the tone and amount of increase. A suggested 13% increase to the general public that has not had a significant raise in five years is just ridiculous. Even a 3.2% increase in 2015 is an affront on your first budget. Times have changed and so too must your fiscal decisions.
Rob Hodgson, Puslinch
Rob Hodgson