Editor, The News:
Re: Residents sign tax petition (The News, July 11).
Dean Rear, we know that municipal property taxes make up 50 per cent of the city’s revenue and they are continually increasing more rapidly than all other sources of revenue.
When the city’s payment to suppliers of goods and services are reviewed for 2011, my first questions are: who approves the expenses; how do you go about the tender process; and what due diligence is in place to ensure we are getting value for our money? Do we consider whether the expense is necessary? What audit controls are in place to monitor expenditures?
There are many expenses that seem very high. Just to name a few, let’s look at the payment to Mosaic Osprey – $2,937,098.33, which represents close to 10 per cent of your expenses. What is this for?
BMO Mastercard for $294,000 seems very high and I wonder if everyone working at city hall has an expense account? Others: A&G Demolition – $236.251; CDC Construction –$275,128; Columbia Bitulithic – $1,085,856; Dominion Fairmile – $1,702,418; Fraser Valley library – $987,208.
There are too many others to mention, but there is also $2.4 million paid out for goods and services, where payments are $25,000 or less.
I think that there is room too cut your expenses. Thomas Jefferson once said and I quote: “No government ought to be without censors, and where the press is free no one ever will.”
M. Hanczik
Pitt Meadows
I make do with less
Editor, The News:
Re: Residents sign tax petition (The News, July 11).
Pitt Meadows Mayor Deb Walters and council just don’t seem to understand what a budget is.
When I make out my budget, if the money runs out, I make do with less.
With the city budget, when the money runs out, they just increase our property taxes.
Not once in the last 10 years has the city held spending down to even a zero increase, let alone decrease spending. When will we finally see some leadership and bring spending under control? How many on council or city employees have turned down raises or benefits to help make ends meet?
As for those budget meetings they want us to go to, what’s the point. Council and staff have had the numbers for weeks or months ahead of time and have already made up their minds on spending.
I suggest that Mayor Walters appear on Til Debt Do Us Part and let Gail explain what a budget and uncontrolled spending is.
Archie Blankers
Pitt Meadows