Dear Rocky View residents:
On Dec. 8, Rocky View Council confirmed the budget for the upcoming year with its single largest expense being $42 million to build a new administration centre in Balzac.
I proposed that council accept the 2016 budget—but without the proposed $42 million expense.
My position is based on the amount of calls and emails that I received from residents from all over Rocky View opposing this exorbitant project.
Accordingly, I may safely conclude that the overwhelming majority of residents are opposed to proceeding with this construction. Unfortunately, seven councillors voted to defeat my proposal. Only Coun. Margaret Bahcheli supported my motion.
As I pointed out to council, Rocky View residents could benefit from spending that money on fixing drainage in many places around the county that flood almost every year, repairing roads and bridges, improving recreation , decreasing tax – and we would still have at least $10 million left over. Residents were not thoroughly consulted before proceeding with this project.
A consultation through the county’s magazine, Vantage Point, was more a token gesture than a real effort to know what the large majority of residents think of this plan.
In light of this, it is sad irony to have this budget approved just before Christmas, in a time when fiscal prudence is needed more than ever in light of the economic downturn. Instead, this Christmas budget gives you the following “gifts”: a new administration building out in the middle of a field just south of Airdrie and a tax increase.
The single most important duty of councillors is to decide how to spend the taxpayers’ money.
This is not fiscal prudence.
