Once again the members of our city council continue to surprise me with their lack of understanding of how taxpayers think.
When will they remember that their role in life is to make sure we have the services that enable us to survive everyday living in the city?
These services include clean water, efficient garbage and sewage disposal, roads that allow us to get around the city, library services, law enforcement, and other basic needs of a modern society.
However, the majority of the council we have now seem to think it their duty to burden the taxpayers with more and more administration costs that eventually ends up stealing tax money from actual jobs such as fixing potholes, improving waste disposal, etc.
Why do I think this is the case? Well, all one has to do is read the article in Saturday’s Advocate entitled Safety Charter budget cuts divide council. On reading the whole article it appears this free spending group, encouraged by the city manager, are considering spending nearly $750,000 on various charters that will direct the councils’ decision making in the future. It is unbelievable that at a time of cutbacks and belt tightening, these councillors seem to have no concept of reality.
Effectiveness Charter, Identity Charter?
How about a Reality Charter to be directed at most of our present council members?
I have to admit I was really impressed to read that after weeks of budget talks, our caring council did manage to tentatively trim $7,748 from the city budget for council representing the city, I will remember that when I go to vote next time.
I’m beginning to question the reporting of the Advocate’s staff, as some of this stuff is starting to sound like a poor novel. They do say that fact is stranger than fiction, I guess the proof of that saying is reinforced at every Red Deer council meeting.
George Croome
Red Deer