Sam Merulla broke some bad news to Hamilton residents this week. If you live within the old city's borders, you've been paying to upkeep Ivor Wynne Stadium since 2001. Your suburban neighbours haven't been charged a dime. By the end of this year, the old city will have paid $1.4 million into Ivor Wynne.
Sam Merulla brought this up during one of the city's area rating debates this week. He wants to make sure any taxpayer costs of the Pan Am stadium are shared by the entire city, unlike the current situation at Ivor Wynne. Leave it to council maverick Merulla to combine two of the hottest city issues -- area rating and Pan Am -- in one fell swoop.
So, Hall Marks readers, what do you think? Are you a ticked-off urban resident? Or are you a suburban resident worried that your taxes will skyrocket?
I hope you all enjoy your weekends...I'll be resting up and gathering my strength for the city's budget kickoff on Monday. That's right, folks - it's officially budget season. Wish me luck.
Okay I have had enough. I was forced into amalgamation as were most residents in Flamborough. Other than paying taxes we have no association with the city. Personally I don't shop there, I don't and won't go there unless forced to.
I have no interest in my taxes going to a venue that is to be used solely for the benefit of sports enthusiasts. Our taxes should be going to necessities such as feeding the poor and providing shelter.
This is a non essential service and until the city gets its budget balanced all non essential services should be reviewed for their relevance to all city residents. This stadium has no relevance to me and I am totally against its support.
Its time we got back down to the basics in this city and got rid of the non essential services and kept only those that have relevance to all taxpayers. We can't afford this stadium, it won't bring more busines into the downtown, because the downtown is a dump, always has been and always will be.
I feel safer walking the streets of Toronto than I do here.
Posted by: Maureen | 11/27/2009 at 04:27 PM
"I'd personally wave the flag for the Pan Am Games if it had no impact on my residents," said Merulla Who does he expect to pay? The free bus fairy? Dumbest quote of the year by far.
Posted by: T Breedon | 11/27/2009 at 04:57 PM
What economic benefits does a downtown stadium bring to Flamborough or Waterdown. Charge a one dollar user tax on all tickets sold for events at the stadium. I am a Ward 6 resident. It's time for Mr. Merulla to dust of his resume and find a real job.
Posted by: Tom Robertson | 11/27/2009 at 06:22 PM
It's about time area rating was done away with. If the residents of Flamborough don't like it, put your houses up for sale and move elsewhere. It's time for the former suburbs to start paying their way in this city.
It's true you may not have all of the benefits of living in the urban part of the city. But you do get more than your fair share of the pie. Just think of the costs associated with building unending miles of roads to service the vast rural areas alone.
The former suburbs have thrived as a result of their proximity to the city of Hamilton, it's about time they paid for that benefit.
Posted by: Mike Russell | 11/27/2009 at 10:22 PM
HERE HERE to Merulla! Gotta give the guy credit he does his homework and those that love him love him more when he exposes these types of wrongs in our city. Those that hate him just resent him for doing a great job. Keep up the great work Sammy.
Posted by: D Miller | 11/28/2009 at 10:34 PM
We not pay for our share?? That's all we've done is pay. We were forced in to amalgamation. We even wanted to go to Burlington, but the government wasn't stupid. They knew Hamilton could never sustain themselves and needed other outlying communities to do it for them.
Posted by: Sam | 11/29/2009 at 10:08 AM
T Breedon:
Based on my reading this article the quote attributed to Merulla is actually brilliant. His intent is to expose the fact the suburbs were in favour of the Pan AM games but are not paying a cent towards the games. Hence his quote clearly underscores the unfair aspect of councillors supporting an initiative without a financial contribution. Im sure this was an oversight on your part! I applaud Merulla's effort in highlighting this unfair fact.
Ryan
Posted by: Ryan | 11/29/2009 at 03:10 PM
I think all taxpayers should pay. People in Flambourough who feel not, where was your voice when the amalgation was going through? You spoke but obviously not enough. Speak up, don't give up until u are heard, or suffer the consequences, like this matter.
Posted by: craig duvall | 11/29/2009 at 06:28 PM
Actually I support having to pay our fair share for the Pan Am games. What is right is right. We didn't have that option when forced to join the City of Hamilton. No one asked for a vote to either be on our own or if forced, which city or region did we want to almagalmate with, Hamilton or Burlington. The overwhelming majority would have said Burlington. There was also the issue of Flamboro Slots. Hamilton didn't want to be part of it from the start. Now they want their share of revenue because "we are all the City of Hamilton". To me that's a double standard. You can't have your cake and eat it too. To hear people in the city complain about the suburbs not paying their share hits a very tender cord.
Posted by: Sam | 11/29/2009 at 08:47 PM
"Maybe instead of just whining all the time with his negative attitude about our City, Sam Merulla should be out doing something constructive like getting out and about to find a corporate sponsor willing to put 5 million into the city coffers to have the stadium name rights."
Posted by: Tom Robertson | 11/30/2009 at 12:43 PM
To reply to Mr. Robertson
Sir - you need to do your homework. I moved into Flamborough 6 years ago at that time my taxes have gone from $3400.00 to over $6000.00 with a REDUCTION in services. None of the roads in West Flamborough are even properly paved as the true city of Hamilton's are. We get a ground gravel covered with spray because the city cannot afford to pave our roads.
Services that I had prior to amalgamation have disappeared. When I call the city to enquire about services the first thing I am told is that I am cannot be a resident of Hamilton because I have a 519 area code and to call Brantford. What does this say about the cities respect for the rural communities?
Flamborough has not trived in any way by being associated with Hamilton, it has only gone downhill.
I have no problem with paying my fair share towards services, but you cannot justify a 100% increase in taxes in 6 years!
Posted by: Maureen | 11/30/2009 at 06:20 PM
Bravo Sam! About time that all residents were taxed fairly. Hamilton has born the larger burden ever since the amalgamation THAT HAMILTON WAS ALSO FORCED INTO! We had no choice either, so quit whining about it and blaming every little thing on it.
Posted by: Jayne | 11/30/2009 at 11:52 PM
Maureen: can you answer a question, has the assessed value of your home gone up in the last six years?
Posted by: Michelle Hruschka | 12/01/2009 at 01:15 AM
Maureen... What is wrong with my homework? My position has been that areas like Flamborough that get no economic benefits from a stadium should not have the tax burden placed on them. Stadium expenses should be offset by a user tax on ticket sales and corporate sponsorships.
???????????????
Posted by: Tom Robertson | 12/01/2009 at 05:13 AM
A new stadium will benifit the City as a whole, therefore everyone in the City should share the costs. Without it, the Ti-Cats leave, for some people, this may seem insignifigant, but consider Sundays Grey Cup drew 12 million viewers at its peak, the best rating ever! Having the stadium and by extension the team keeps Hamilton in the concisness of Canadians coast to coast, including potential investors and politicians.
The only arguement that can be made aganist having costs shared across the city is that what ever ward ends up with the stadium will benifit the most directly from it. So maybe that ward should pay a little extra in conjunction with a small user fee charged on each ticket.
Posted by: Steel City Steve | 12/01/2009 at 10:49 PM
to answer Maureen's problem, pay Brantford instead of your taxes and see what kinda bullcrap Hamilton offices have to say then. go get them gal
Posted by: craig duvall | 12/02/2009 at 10:55 AM
Mr. Robertson
I apologize for singling you out. I looked at the name above the posting not below. My comments should have been directed towards Mr. Russell.
Again, I apologize for the error.
To Michelle - Yes my house has been reassessed during these years, but has only gone up marginally in value. In fact it was just reassessed by MPAC and the value reduced from this years assessment. While I realize and accept increases, the 2007 increase was 10% - unacceptable for anyone, I did not get a 10% raise.
To Mr. Duvall - I might try that at tax season next year just to see what happens. Since I obviously don't live in the city, maybe I just won't pay my taxes until they formally apologize for telling me I am not a resident in the first place. If I don't live here then obviously I don't owe them taxes.
Posted by: Maureen | 12/02/2009 at 11:13 PM
to Maureen;exactly,ask Councillor scott Duvall
Posted by: craig duvall | 12/03/2009 at 06:11 PM
Hi Maureen: Yes I understand what you are saying, it was just a question because the assessed value does affect taxes.
Have you heard about the Hamilton Civic League?
hamiltoncivicleague.org
We hope this will spread across all wards in the city. There are many issues but it seems that only "we the people" can affect change. Anyways check it out, maybe you can be catalyst to get those in your ward invovled in the process.
It was the province, Mr Harris's government that forced amalgamation, not the residents of the old city of Hamilton. Sort of like HST, the people have no voice in the decision making process!
Posted by: Michelle Hruschka | 12/06/2009 at 11:59 AM