Central
An Edmonton group, TapYeg is the first out of the gate to take advantage of Bill 20 to establish a party to run candidates in next year's city elections. TapYeg's president Jeffrey Hansen-Carlson and members believe the city can run more efficiently promises to cut taxes within 100 days of being elected, maintain peace and order, and reboot relations with the province under a centrist vision.
Margaret Thatcher famously said - "The trouble with socialism, is that eventually you run out of other peoples money to spend". Regardless of your political views, the point is well made and government officials at all levels pass budgets that prove it true. On Thursday City staff recommended a property tax rate hike to 7% for the 2024 budget.
I'm going to close with 2 other sayings. The first is that the city continues to spend taxpayers money like a drunken sailor and for many of those taxpayers the well is running dry.
The last post was about the city considering a 7% property tax hike for the 2024 budget and in my comments included a number of sayings. I'm going to use another saying in my introduction to Lorne Gunter's thoughtful column.
The trouble with common sense is that its in short supply and when found should be treasured. As he does so often in his columns, Lorne Gunter presents some common sense, this time on the issue of city spending.
The city's annual budget should include retainer fees to the like of Lorne Gunter who would bring a common sense perspective to issues under deliberation.
Groups like TagYeg allow the electorate to engage with them and their candidates to better understand their position on a number of local issues.