CALGARY - The gloves are coming off over municipal taxes on the campaign trail.
Bob Hawkesworth was one of eight candidates taking part in the Chinatown Showdown forum at Regency Palace Restaurant Wednesday afternoon. He took aim at Ric McIver's plan to cap a property tax increases to 4 percent for 2011, stating it would mean huge cuts to other city services like transit and the library.
“This is not the time to be slashing cuts and making deep inroads into the services.”
Council has already approved a 6.7 percent property-tax increase in next year's budget, but bad economic numbers have meant City Hall must find around $60- million in cuts to balance the budget.
But Ric McIver says he'll fill the shortfall and do even better.
“That only represents a 3 to 4 percent reduction in the different departments. Managers work there, we'll be able to find that.”
Other candidates are siding with Hawkesworth, saying protected budgets like police and fire will also throw a wrench into the plan.
“As a result, that 3 to 4 % actually means things for transit and libraries. It's 8 to 10 percent. That's a pretty big cut for departments to expect in 3 to 4 weeks,” said Naheed Nenshi.
Barb Higgins is also attacking McIver head on. During a speech to about 500 supporters and donors Tuesday evening, she said a 6.7 percent increase in property taxes would amount to approximately $70 extra dollars a year, a reasonable increase for most to preserve police, fire, parks, arts and other services.
Following news of Higgin’s comments on Tuesday, McIver chided her for sounding like city administration, and said council shouldn’t be taking any taxpayer’s money it doesn’t absolutely need.
The three-term aldermen said his target would demand approximately $87-million in spending cuts, which should mean efficiencies but no service cuts in a $2.6-billion operating budget.
“I’m not going to slash and burn. I’m looking to proper management of expenditures in a tough budget year.”
Joe Connelly says it’s less about a number, and more about value.
“It's not necessarily about the level of taxation, it's about what do I get for my money, so I’m not going to go out there and say you're gonna get 4 % or 5 %.”
Candidates also took part in another debate later in the afternoon at the Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations at the Epcor Centre. Among the topics - how the candidates would support volunteer run groups.
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