Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
The people pay...and the people pay
Why is it that come budget time - at whatever level of government - in order to "save" the taxpayers it's always the taxpayers and the workers who are dumped on?
The current round of budget talks in Uxbridge - now on hold until the new year - is taking swipes at the township's taxpayers, all in the name of keeping the property tax increase as low as possible. If the talks continue as they have been going, Uxbridge taxpayers will be paying more and receiving reduced services at the same time. That's double dinging.
All township departments have been under the gun to reduce their budgets as much as possible. That is understandable. But it is a rare thing to see the public works department budget trimmed much below what director Ben Kester presents. Same for the fire department. Obviously, both departments provide essential services. But the services that other departments provide are, apparently, less essential in the eyes of council.
For example, do not be surprised if the library reduces the number of hours it is open after the budget is brought in. After Monday's lengthy budget session, the library was asked to come back in January with yet another proposed budget with the provision that the library board cut a further $25,000 from what was last proposed. Also don't be surprised if some library employee finds their job gone.
Same thing over at Uxpool and the museum. Amanda Ferraro, manager of recreation and culture, told councillors she could save $5,000 in wages by closing the pool on Friday evenings. After all, it would only affect between 10 and 30 people. But aren't they taxpayers? And does someone either lose their job or face reduced hours because of the move? That remains to be seen.
Ms. Ferraro said another $5,000 in wages could be saved by reducing staff at the museum next year. Whose job is on the line there?
To get back to the public works department for a moment, at the same meeting Mr. Kester offered that his department has received a quote of $55,000 for inspecting all storm water management ponds in the township. Initially, councillors balked, with Mayor Gerri-Lynn O'Connor asking what would happen if the study wasn't done. Councillors appeared mollified by Mr. Kester's explanation that the study would "allow for long-term management, the way we do on roads". Oh, okay then.
And, as reported elsewhere in this edition, responding to a request from council, Richard Vandezande, manager of development services, provided a preliminary analysis on the possibility of residential development on Herrema Fields, the museum grounds south of the actual museum buildings and Siloam Park. Admittedly, it's not the township's fault that development is severely restricted by the Green Belt and Oak Ridges Moraine legislation, but should the good folks in the hamlet of Siloam have to give up their park just so the township can get some extra property taxes? Should the folks in Barton Farms have more housing crowded in behind them - and lose the soccer fields - for the same reason? And allowing residential development on the museum grounds would obliterate one of the finest vistas in the whole township and, presumably, take away parking for such museums events as Heritage Days. At least the mayor was unequivocal in her opposition to that particular suggestion.
So Concession 6 will get its unnecessary $500,000 repaving - (Heinz Nitschke's recent letter notwithstanding) - and the parking lot at the entrance to the Countryside Preserve could receive a $13,000 pave over (in the 2014 budget). But Uxbridge taxpayers could be facing reduced services and loss of recreation lands while paying more in taxes - and a couple of poor sods could find their jobs in jeopardy.
I know it is not an easy job coming up with a budget and keeping taxes down. But it seems to me there's always some lowly civil servant who has to pay the ultimate price - and the taxpayer still gets dinged.
Tell me, am I wrong?
