7/30/2019 Tom Murray - Tax Petition Speech

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7/30/2019 Tom Murray - Tax Petition Speech

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In our case, as with every senior, especially those relyingon pensions alone, we haven't had a raise in years! Yes, in

these tough financial times, we have to run our homes likewell-oiled machinery. We have to stick to a budget andrefrain from charging up huge debts that we can't pay off.

Raises seem to be automatic in City Hall, but they arentfor the rest of us. I compiled some percentages on the

wage increases from 2008 to 2011 (using the SOFI reportsavailable at city hall) and quite frankly I am appalled.

During that 3 year period, The mayors salary rose37.69% on top of high stipends received for attendingnumerous Metro Vancouver meetings, instead ofbeing present in City Hall as a full time Mayor, aspromised.

Councillors wages rose by 43.77%, but it is recognizedthat the wages are not exorbitant.

Meanwhile, Upper management staff in the city saw raisesbetween 5and 32 per cent....how can this be considered'OKAY'?

It is very hard for us to understand how theseincreases can stand up to scrutiny.

7/30/2019 Tom Murray - Tax Petition Speech

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The city often pats itself on the back for havingthe thirdlowest taxes in Metro Vancouver.

While that may be true, we feel that a more accuratereflection of fiscal responsibility is the Business Councilof BC report on the growth of municipal spending inMetro Vancouver from 2000 to 2010. This reportclearly shows that per capita spending ranked PittMeadows the third worst municipality in the region.

We now have in excess of1200 names on our petition.1,200 PLUS VOICES asking council for relief on their taxbills next year. We hope council and city staff arewilling to listen to solutions from us, the residents,who have spent several months analyzing the citysbudget and believe a zero tax increase is possible

without drastic cuts to services.

You say a zero tax increase is impossible andunrealistic. We beg to differ.

Upon doing some research on city budgets, I have foundthat Richmond, North Vancouver, Penticton, Mission, toname a few have accomplished a 0% or near 0% budget.

THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL. WE ARE ASKING,ONCE AGAIN, FOR 0% TAX INCREASE FOR 2013.

7/30/2019 Tom Murray - Tax Petition Speech

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