January 29, 2015
891
To the Editor:
RE: "Kincardine scraps proposed 8.7-per-cent tax-rate increase"
Today our OAP came in. The increase over last year? ZIP! NADA! ZILCH!
Does that mean there is no inflation? Apparently not, as CPP went up a few dollars.
Again, thank you to those who voted down an 8.7-per-cent increase in local taxes.
Mary and Michael Allen
Tiverton
To the Editor:
There are many things that money should not be spent on this year and perhaps a few years until the Municipality of Kincardine gets a real grip on the deficit it is running.
A $7.4-million shortfall is not small chump change. The municipality is in serious trouble, even with an 8.7-per-cent tax-rate increase at the last budget meeting, and that doesn’t include saving any money to go back into reserves that are depleted.
For years, Kincardine has had a good flow of income, and spent twice as much going out. Those dollars have stopped. There is nothing coming in, basically, except from Samsung. For years, Kincardine has been supporting groups and projects that do not bring in enough money to the municipality to pay back loans granted to them, and they can’t even support themselves on a day-to-day basis.
Maybe it is time to look at new policies for groups wanting taxpayer funding that they must come to the table with a certain percentage of money raised for their project or business. This team was voted in to be responsible to the taxpayer. Right now is the time to be frugal, right now is the time for not a dime to be spent unless it’s a necessity.
I came across a letter of concern from Michael and Mary Allen of Tiverton who stated they have no idea how they would come up with an extra $100 to pay their taxes on a fixed income. Not only is this a community with a high rate of retired people living here, but we have many families who are on fixed incomes who would struggle to come up with that money.
And Mary Allen is right, our hydro rates go up twice a year at least and there is not much chance of that stopping anytime soon. Council is on the path of putting people in the poor house. Does anyone on council know how many people in this community are on fixed incomes or what the rate of income is for families in the municipality?
Kincardine needs to look at all projects and programs seeking funding and see what can be cut before council starts getting rid of services that affect the many members of this community on a day-to-day basis. The municipality has a physician recruitment program with Bruce Power, is Kincardine even hiring doctors at this point? We are continuing to hear of health services being cut and the hospital is in major need of repair at the cost of almost $35-million and now the centre in Chesley is about to be closed. Many in the surrounding communities have used the services provided by the site in Chesley.
I have been informed that there is $50,000 set aside to fix up houses for doctors, I thought the municipality wanted to get away from being landlords? What happened to people wanting to move to the beautiful shores of Kincardine, because it was a vibrant growing community. Instead, we bribe them to come here and give them houses and cash. I remember years ago reading something along the lines that we would give a doctor $100,000 to come here - I find this ludicrous.
There is talk about using the money from the sale of the Annex building. The sale price listed at $226,000 - the deal has been in the works since Sept. 13, 2013. Why has it taken so long to close the deal, why has there been continued talks in closed session over this? How much will the commission be? How much is the legal bill going to be for it?
Another aspect of this sale that is confusing, is why is it being sold for so little - $226,000 for a slice of the pie downtown, that seems real cheap.
How much money since the talk of the sale has been invested back into the building to make the deal go through? Nothing makes sense in this deal, but, once again, no one knows due to all the meetings and talks that have been in closed door session. Council is not slated to have a report on this till February and the deal will possibly close at the end of April. So how does one spend money before it is even in the pot?
There are debts to be paid from the non-sale of Bruce Telecom - the last I heard, that was a $1-million payout racked up by a council that was irresponsible to its taxpayers.
As a member of this community, who tries to support Kincardine without actually paying my land taxes to the municipality by shopping, living and playing in this beautiful community, I can only say this: Now is the time for council to stop being irresponsible. The proof is here right now on what type of council the taxpayers will have to live with for the next four years.
Crystal Morais
RR4, Ripley
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