Dear Editor:
RE: Centre Wellington looking at 6.3% property tax increase in 2025, June 20.
So it seems council and township staff are discussing increasing our property taxes again. I believe that “no” should be the appropriate response. There is but one taxpayer, and we are being hit at all levels of government with new or increased taxes, on top of inflationary pressures on our household and business budgets. Town staff and council need to get spending under control and frankly learn to do more with less.
If we residents are expected to find the money to cover a tax increase, then I expect to see some sacrifices made by council and staff. Here are but a few suggestions.
First, any staff member making over $100,000 a year will no longer have any professional or association fees paid for by the town. If they make that much in salary, they can foot the bill themselves.
Second, non-mandatory training is cancelled. This is to include any conferences and seminars. I am not sure why we residents are paying to send councilors and staff out of town for non-mandatory training and conferences when there is a cash crunch. Do the training that is required by statute, and that is it. If they wish to attend non-mandatory training, they can pay for it on their own.
Finally, council can show they understand that sacrifices need to be made by taking a 10% pay cut. Most residents, unlike the councillors in 2023, cannot vote themselves a 16% pay raise prior to property taxes being raised. Nobody on council campaigned for the position saying they were doing it for the money. They sought election to help and better the community. So a pay cut should not matter to them.
Will any of this happen? No. Given the performance of council and staff, they will believe they are “entitled to their entitlements” and vote to increase property taxes.
Rob Hardy,
Elora