59 Carden St.

What really really matters

Posted by Magda
I wrote here early in the year about council's priority-setting for large projects. Now, they're considering doing it over again.

The realities have changed sufficiently since then -- with the approval of the convent-museum and the plan for the Wilson Street parking garage -- that they're talking about taking another look at what happens when. Councillor Bob Bell wants some focus on projects outside of downtown, and cautions that he wants to make sure this council doesn't make plans for the next three.

Read about the original priority-setting plan here. The list of priorities is online as well, the last page of this document.

And, read more about the potential for rejuggling priorities in tomorrow's paper.

Youth shelter resolved?

Posted by Magda
It's hard to believe, but it seems the question of who will fund the youth shelter has been resolved.

Guelph council approved spending $72,000 this year for three months of shelter operation -- meaning the shelter would open in October.

This has been a political hot potato since Change Now unceremoniously closed in July. There's a long way to go between approving cash and actually opening a shelter. But it looks like the first step to housing at-risk youth has been made.

An unusual ending

Posted by Magda
A fire alarm couldn't stop the passing of the 2008 budget, I just heard from my colleague Laura Thompson.

It seems the meeting was a little chaotic, with members of the audience shouting comments during the meeting. Then, as councillors were just about ready to vote on the budget, the fire alarm went off.

Some people put on coats and left council chambers, but after nearly five hours of debate, councillors weren't deterred, approving the budget before leaving the building.

Bored now.

Posted by Tanis Fowler

The newsroom is watching the budget presentation at city hall tonight and I'm beginning to understand why CNN breaks into news coverage by dropping tiny Wolf Blitzer in front of a giant bank of monitors. It wakes me up! His crazy 3-D maps and green screen technology make me feel as if something exciting is happening and I should pay close attention, lest I miss a fantastic graphic representation of budgetary finances.

Of course, CNN doesn't cover stuff like this. Because it's boring. But it affects all of us, and sometimes, I wish council broadcasts were more like Pop-Up Video or a game show or something that captures our attention. Like Deal or No-Deal, but with a point.

That's my recommendation. More star wipes, flag graphics and countdown clocks.

How're they spending your cash?

Posted by Magda
It's budget night -- the night we'll find out just how much we'll be paying this year, and what services councillors decide deserve our funding.

It seems Rogers isn't airing it live -- they have it on channel 20 starting at 9 pm.

Watch this space, and of course tomorrow's newspaper, for more.

How're they spending your cash?

Posted by Magda
It's budget night -- the night we'll find out just how much we'll be paying this year, and what services councillors decide deserve our funding.

It seems Rogers isn't airing it live -- they have it on channel 20 starting at 9 pm.

Watch this space, and of course tomorrow's newspaper, for more.

Wading into a quagmire?

Posted by Magda
Recreation fees could rise between 3 and 7% this year. That means, for instance, that it would cost $197 and hour to rent ice in the evenings, compared to the current $184. Fees for some classes would go up even more -- pilates classes could go for $70 instead of the current $56.

It's all pending approval by council. But it sounds a lot like a recent proposal in Toronto -- one the city was backpedalling on furiously yesterday after huge backlash.

The Toronto proposal has a bigger increase -- 21.5% on average for using rinks, pools and other facilities. The higher rates would mean $5.7 million in city coffers.

Torontonians were already upset about the proposal to increase fees for programs, but the rink and pool increases seem to have put people over the top.

The stakes are bigger in Toronto -- an $8.2 billion budget with council directing staff not to increase spending this year.

Here's wondering whether we'll see a similar reaction here.

Update: I've just heard from city staff that if the rates go up as proposed, it'll mean $250,000 more in city coffers.

Budget cuts

Posted by Magda
Blog reader Blain Bovee suggests this: "Perhaps a new thread could be started addressing the 'need' to make budget cuts. After all, when the "two-hour free parking" plan was implemented, a cool $500,000 or more is lost from the city revenues.

"I still maintain my point about city staff inefficiency posted above, but why is this backwards plan of two-hour free parking in place?"

Thanks for the suggestion, Blain.

What do readers think about the need for budget cuts?

At least we're not Hamilton

Posted by Magda
As our council committed to cap next year's tax hike at 4.5%, Hamilton is talking about a hike of anywhere between 6% and 8.3%. Ouch.

That's largely for service expansions. Maintaining current service would lead to an increase of just 2.5%. (That's different from Guelph, where council decided to allow a 3.5% increase to maintain current service, and 1% to allow for service expansions.)

Even so, Hamilton is saying it'd be hard to commit to a smaller increase, with expansions including things like road maintenance, snow removal and paramedics.

Mississauga, meanwhile, is talking about a 10% increase. Seems we're lucky not to be facing that kind of crunch.

A city divided?

Posted by Magda
South-end residents have long said they pay the most in taxes and get the least services in exchange.

At council yesterday, staff said the tax rate is the same across the city.

But Councillor Karl Wettstein argued that homes in the south end are worth more than homes elsewhere in the city. So while all residents pay the same percentage in taxes, the south end contributes more to the pot, he said.

"Whether you like it or not, taxes on homes in some parts of the city are higher than in others," Wettstein said. "That has divided the city. And, the part with higher taxes has no services."

This surprised me. All areas of the city should have services -- I think most people agree with that. But I'm not sure the level of tax paid should impact that in any way.