Candidate Platform
Platforms can be very vague or very detailed affairs.
I am pleased to submit for your review a set of planks that form the basis of my platform.
a rising tide lifts all boats
It doesn’t matter what governments seek to accomplish.
The reality is that nothing gets done without money.
Municipal governments have limited sources of revenue with most coming from business and residential property taxes. Lethbridge has effectively exhausted this supply as ratepayers are demanding reductions.
At the same time there are demands for increased spending. Please read on and I’ll explain how we square that circle.
City of Lethbridge
Candidate Platform
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS #1
The only way to increase tax revenues and lower the mill rate is to grow the base. This requires growing the economy through investment by the private sector.
As a municipality, Lethbridge can act as a catalyst by leveraging resources, facilitating cooperation and coordinating responses at both the government and commercial levels.
The City of Lethbridge is well-positioned as the largest community in the geographic centre of Southern Alberta to be a regional economic hub.
Overview
This year there appears to be an unprecedented level of interest in the Lethbridge Municipal Election. Just as so many other members of the community I have deep concerns over the perceived lack of effective governance from the last two Councils.
Therefore, when I was approached by a number of people including some participating in this election I decided this might be a good way to share my own ideas. After all, my numerous letters to the editor and outreach to the Mayor certainly wasn’t having much effect. So, my friends, I offer you the high level overview of my platform.
These are just the broad strokes so stay tuned by checking for updates on either my Facebook page or full details on my website at www.iluvyql.ca . No matter what happens, we will get the government we deserve so make your concerns heard loud and clear.
Remember too that I’m here to listen. If you can be concise and considerate, we can at least have a meaningful exchange, even if we don’t always agree on every detail. Given the fact that everyone is human, I’m confident what binds us together is much greater than that which divides us.
Let our shared needs be what defines us rather than our differences. Please join me.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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GOVERNANCE TRANSPARENCY
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Much of the dissatisfaction with our current administration stems from the decision-making process.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY
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Economic Development
Many of the candidates are calling for increased spending and reduced taxes. This should come as no surprise as there’s a natural inclination for politicians to make empty promises. In fact, this is as insulting as it is disingenuous. Municipalities have three conventional revenue sources income:
- Residential and business property taxes (basically maxed out).
- Grants from senior levels of government (basically tapped out).
- User fees and licenses (basically sapped out). The City has also added some revenue activities to its operations under the Opportunity Lethbridge banner. These efforts are somewhat inconsistent with the municipal mandate to provide services rather than operate as a business.
There is also evidence to show this approach is actually as counter-productive despite how intuitive it may seem. These should be liquidated.
On the other hand, studies have shown that for every $1 spent on economic development, an average return of $108 is realized. Despite this evidence, Choose Lethbridge is struggling to do a credible job on an embarrassingly small budget.
Another strategy to growing the tax base is to spread out the costs and benefit across a wider geographic base. Lethbridge is perfectly positioned in the middle of Southern Alberta to be a regional hub.
Between a proper plan with appropriate funding, and partnering with the other communities in Southern Alberta, economic growth will allow Lethbridge to boost the tax base. This way the property mill rate can fall even as rising tax receipts permit more spending on those ‘wants’ on top of all ‘essentials’.
Governance Transparency
Everything municipal government does is based upon assumptions, including trust, competence, and accountability. However, once a municipality reaches a certain size there is no need to take the words of elected officials at face value. The same thing goes for management which has seen a revolving door at the most senior levels. What is the true state of the City’s financial affairs? How are priorities being set and how thorough is the research and due diligence? Why is it always so hard to find answers to questions? Just because City Hall doesn’t like scrutiny does not mean we need to accept having the wool pulled over their eyes as the current practice appears.
Administrative Accountability
Municipalities exist for the purpose of delivering needed service such as road construction and maintenance, garbage pickup and disposal, police, fire, and ambulance services among others.
It is critically important to ensure that rate payers are getting good value for their hard-earned tax dollars. All too often it seems the service delivery is at odds with the experiences the public expects to receive.
Why do so many people seem to feel the roads are in poor shape, the police aren’t keeping them safe or red-tape is being used as a source revenue? Citizens have every right to demand good performance from their municipal government.
How are we supposed to tell though? Proper reporting that helps us to easily gauge actual municipal service levels should be mandatory and not simply an afterthought.
Working together we can make Lethbridge a model for all of Canada
More spending and lower taxes? How is this even possible?
- Improvements to transparency and governance
- Economic development leading to beneficial growth
- Improved oversight and reporting to ensure value for money
