Editor:
Re: New West hears of need for 5.4 to 6.4 per cent tax hike
It is tiresome listening to municipalities and municipal councils suggest that they only have two options about taxes — they can either have a massive tax increase or an even more massive tax increase. This assumes that those who pay for the increases are an endless stream of money.
There is no reason that the New Westminster's finance department could not have put forward a budget that considers no increase. This would no doubt have meant looking at some cuts to some services and a reduction in the number of city employees. Perhaps some pet projects or "studies" would also have to have been put on hold.
It probably would have required a freeze in all wages not associated with a collective agreement and taking a hard line on negotiations for any renewal of the collective agreement. Were these options explored? I doubt it.
Part of the problem we have in the city is a finance department that is conflicted by its own self-interest in preserving wage increases, particulary to the extent that management increases are tied to the collective agreement, as well as a council that is largely beholden to certain interest groups. This needs to end.
We also need far better supervision of the city's employees and the work they do. While I appreciate this is entirely anecdoctal, I see far too many employees sitting in various parking lots around the city doing absolutely nothing or killing time in their trucks before the end of their shifts. There are certainly savings to be found in that area with a bit of supervision.
Finally, comments about "respecting contracts" made by certain city councillors are nonsensical in the context of the budget. Non-bargaining-unit employees' wages can be frozen; collective agreements come up for renewal, other services can be reduced, and contracts can be terminated in accordance with their terms.
This council needs to start thinking more about those who pay the bills and what they can afford. That should start with the exploration of a zero per cent tax increase.
Robert Sider
