Our Financial Position.

In recent weeks we have had several discussions that I hoped would prepare people to better understand the upcoming municipal budget.

The Province should come out with a standard reporting format that is used every year by every municipality. That way one Council can’t report your tax increases in a way that simply deflects their accountability.

I know the format changed with the arrival of this Council. But regardless, the Treasurer or Chief Financial Officer has to provide the numbers that make up the budget. The finances of a town must be audited every year.

But at times, it is what is said in answering questions publicly that provide the most candid screenshot.

At Mondays meeting, Councillor White couldn’t understand why the development fees of housing developments not yet built couldn’t be used to support a budget.

When the CFO answered his question, her words were calculated and cautious. Still, they painted a bleak picture in my humble opinion.

Listen carefully to everything said after the 6:15:00 point in the video. It sounds like we are selling off our properties in order to gamble on an investment that the “public” is not yet privy to.

Brian Smith goes on to say it’s not entirely true because we should be paying for some things that need to be done anyway, like upgrading sewers. But… why do we need to upgrade sewers? Oh yeh… development!

Here is the sad part… these properties will be listed and marked sold almost immediately. Why wouldn’t the town put together a bidding process with a fixed minimum?

Um, I guess if they did that, those who already know the price and have their offer ready might miss out.

Is this about raising the most money e can, or… #favoursforfriends