The language of love...and taxes

This morning's budget kickoff started with a bit of multicultural flair. At the beginning of the meeting, downtown Councillor Bob Bratina surprised everyone by welcoming a group of Chinese delegates in Mandarin. Bratina gave me this translation of his greeting: "Welcome to Chinese friends.  We Canadians appreciate the Chinese culture. Thank you very much."

After Bratina's linguistic manoeuvre, Mayor Fred Eisenberger asked Rob Rossini, the city's finance guru, if the budget was going to be presented in Chinese. That prompted Rossini to launch into the first few lines of his budget presentation in robust Italian. He got a big laugh from council, including Eisenberger.

"You make the budget sound so sexy," said the Mayor. "I'm getting a little hot under the collar."

I'm filing that comment away in the "too much information" pile.

***

On a more serious note, the preliminary budget numbers were presented to council this morning. So far, they're better than expected - Hamilton's looking at a 3.1 per cent property tax increase. However, that amount assumes we're getting a $16.5 million contribution from the province. More details about the budget will be available in tomorrow's paper.

In the meantime, what's your reaction to these numbers?

Comments

[Tom Robertson]

We all know what happens when you assume something. Let's see how creative and business like this council can be by coming up with an agenda that will, cut costs,increase revenue and slash from the budget the millions spent on many projects to appease special interest groups.

[Markalanwhittle]

If Ontario's finance minister see's fit to give city hall another "hand-out" he must be living on another planet.

Ontario is in the hole by billions of dollars without adding another $16.5 million to their debt.

The only way Hamilton council will ever learn to live within their means is by getting cut-off by the Dalton McGuinty goverment.

[Michelle Hruschka]

But what about those who have lost their jobs and EI is running out. Will they be able to afford an increase, when they are already having trouble just keeping house and home? I am sure they will be a wake up for many who will be forced onto welfare and find out the real truth.

When cuts are made, it is always those at the bottom that pay the biggest price and this is what needs to change.

Starting hitting at the top, let those with lots of money starting giving more to the pot, instead of leaving on the backs of those who struggle.

[gWC]

6 dollars a year for rainwater going into sewer? what the hell is next charge me - for every car that goes past the house?

[Kim B. Foster]

What's next? The infrastructure tax imposed last night, Dec. 8.
Six bucks a year will be small change compared to this. This is just the first surcharge I'm sure. After all, we've got those games to pay for. Reach for your wallet!