EDITORIAL: Take it back to drawing board, region
YorkRegion.com
Feb. 19, 2015
ISSUE: Region looks to hike taxes by 3.8%; development fees have slowed with economy.
ork Region could be in big trouble if it doesn’t figure out a way to substantially lower costs and get its ballooning debt in check.
Faced with a $2.54-billion debt that could climb to well over $3 billion by the next municipal election, politicians need a solid plan of action.
That plan shouldn’t mean continuing to depend on development fees and unsustainable urban sprawl.
Residents living in what is arguably the fastest-growing community in Canada should not bear an unreasonably high tax burden.
Luckily, many York politicians agree a proposed 3.8-per-cent tax hike for 2015 could and should be lowered and have sent upper management back to the drawing board to find savings.
This is encouraging news since, combined with this year’s proposed rate hike, taxpayers are facing a double-digit increase over the next four years.
Senior staff, somewhere along the line, must have forecasted an inevitable economic slowdown after years of excessive development in most of our neighbourhoods.
It appears, however, the region either didn’t heed the warning or ignored its implications after it was forced last week — because of a lack of funds — to push back plans for several large-scale infrastructure projects.
The region has already taken steps to postpone the highly touted Upper York Sewage Solutions, initiated to handle water and sewage needs for growth in Aurora, Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.
This, despite the fact regional staff has spent significant time and money to put together reports regarding the provincially mandated local solution, initiated to ease pressure off Lake Ontario and redirect treated effluent to Lake Simcoe.
East Gwillimbury, for example, has more than 1,000 acres of serviced land designated for employment near the intersection of Woodbine Avenue and Davis Drive and was counting on the completion of the $600-million project to attract big business to the Hwy. 404 corridor.
East Gwillimbury poured funds into lobbying companies to the area with its Advantage EG economic development strategy.
So, where does a region with the highest per capita debt in the entire GTA turn to find more cash? The taxpayer, of course.
Just last week, for instance, there were rumblings around the budget table about new initiatives for road safety, to add to the red-light cameras at intersections across the region by lobbying the province to resurrect the infamous photo radar program in some form.
In all, 20 red-light cameras are up and running in York and it’s not a surprise many motorists aren’t happy with the devices. The standard fine for drivers is upwards of $300 and, as of June 2014, close to 5,000 tickets have been mailed out, resulting in about $1 million in revenue.
But as we’ve stated before, politicians need first to look inside its regional buildings when trying to cut expenses or drum up revenue.
Do we need more than 100 new police officers over the next four years? Are departmental budgets really as tight and efficient as possible? Are there not areas where staff could be redirected? What about attrition? Can’t expense accounts be eliminated or severely cut back?
Since many politicians like to compare the region to the private sector, it needs cut costs the same way.
Tax-weary homeowners and businesses should not be expected to take on any more debt and, from what this newspaper hears on a daily basis, most people aren’t confident that governments spend public money frugally or even responsibly, in some cases.
It’s time for some tough love inside the regional headquarters before looking outside to taxpayers.
BOTTOM LINE: Let’s look internally and find savings before asking taxpayers for more.
