We're coming into the home stretch of these municipal elections, so it's very interesting timing for the release of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business' fourth annual B.C. municipal spending watch report.
The CFIB is notorious for raking municipalities over the coals for spending, and this year is no different.
Teeth may be setting on edge for the "stay the course" mayoral candidate, incumbent Dan Rogers (no what positive spin the numbers warrant).
Today we learned City Hall's spending is now leveling off, and even decreasing a little, after years of increases well beyond population growth. But is leveling off good enough for voters?
For "cut spending" candidate Green, this could be her field day.
(She may want to tread lightly, however, since she was among the candidates who lobbied for a new hockey arena, which had its share of supporters but never came to pass, backed a new RCMP building, which many argue was much needed and finally went ahead with a reduced budget, and supports a new Performance Arts Centre, although she doesn't want the city to fund it all.)
She's been campaigning for finding the fat at City Hall - and that is what's captured the voters' imagination.
Spending has been without a doubt the hottest topic during this campaign (when isn't it the hot button issue?), and with good reason.
As the CFIB report indicates, operating spending has ballooned to nearly four times the rate of population growth.
This status quo campaign line that Rogers is taking is quite risky.
He attempts to justify it in his 11-page campaign document by listing the admirable accomplishments of the past three years.
But he's been oddly absent of the public eye during this campaign (except once when it really counted), so we'll have to wait and see whether his message comes across.
The document also outlines his platform priorities: better roads, better neighbourhoods and better business.
All these goals, as noble as they are, will need financing.
Rogers talks about sustainability, but are tax increases year after year after year sustainable?
And he hopes revenue streams will be there, but reality can be a harsh mistress.
Leaders would be wise to treat the ever-increasing complaints over taxes as more than just the normal griping.
Focus on the basics of running day-to-day operations and generating jobs, and leave the big dreams for when that ship finally comes in.
-- Prince George Citizen
