Rocky View residents should pay attention to the recently announced settlement Rocky View County (RVC) made in regards to a legal matter:
https://www.rockyview.ca/NewsEvents/News/tabid/145/Article/1294/County-Settles-Long-Standing-Water-Claim.aspx
The suit was for $50 million. The settlement will cost you $14 million or $1,400 per Rocky View family of four, excluding an additional very significant sum for legal fees. At first glance, two factors become apparent: no one seems to be responsible for this debacle and RV, in the hope no one would be paying attention, released this news shortly before Christmas.
This is what happens when poorly planned and poorly thought-out developments are approved. That is not to say we haven't had beneficial and positive development, we certainly have but many more have been little more than a big rush to promote growth at any cost. Very often, that cost has been in environmental, lifestyle and social terms. In this case, it’s also in terms of $14 million-plus of taxpayer money that has gone straight down the drain.
This month, council will continue the debate on a proposed large development at the former site of the Wintergreen ski hill. Many factors must be evaluated, most notably community input (cancelled after Nov 28) and potential taxpayer subsidies. Rule No. 1 should be no more subsidies. Developers must be willing and able to foot the bill for all related necessary infrastructure, including sewage, roads, etc. Furthermore, if RVC continues to promise or guarantee unrealistic and undeliverable infrastructure subsidies many more legal suits maybe forthcoming.
The pure drivel of RVC's above noted announcement is most apparent in its last two paragraphs: "The decision to reassign water and wastewater capacity to other businesses and developments has resulted in economic stability and lower taxes … Development has brought tens-of-millions of dollars in non-residential property taxes and levies. That economic activity has helped keep residential property tax rates among the lowest in the province."
Only RVC would say that losing more than $14 million is a good thing. The reality is that previous, current and planned subsidies more than offset the increase in non-residential taxes. It is true RVC does have a lower tax rate than many of its neighbours – but that is because RV does not offer buses, LRT, social services, sidewalks, garbage pick up,street lights, policing, sewage, water, etc.
Subsidies have not brought lower taxes. Subsidies have brought tenfold increased debt.
Jerry Arshinoff
