Quote:
Originally Posted by Winnipegger
It boggles my mind that the citizens of this city constantly whine about property taxes and fees one day and then complain about dirty and pothole-filled streets, decrepit community centres, closed wading pools, uncut grass, and ugly light fixtures the next.
Winnipeggers have asked to live in a cheap city and they are most certainly getting what they ask for.
Think your property tax is high? It's because the school divisions in this city have the highest tax rates in Canada, which has to do with the Province, not the City. The municipal tax portion of the taxpayer's property tax bill is among the lowest in Canada, hence our garbage infrastructure.
City council has done nothing to address the sorry state of our infrastructure (aside from reversing slashes to the roads budget by Katz), nor have they done a thing to make Winnipeg a more attractive place to live - but hey, having the lowest municipal property tax in the country will surely start attracting people... any day now, any day...
|
Excellent points. I think it is fairly universal that many people want to see improvements/changes in their communities, but never want to inconvenience themselves to get it. It doesn't help that tiny single-issue pressure groups like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation constantly critique any kind of tax increase, whether it is justified or not, AND get front-page media coverage for their opinions. People need to realize that nice roads will cost them $$, and be willing to pay up to get them.
I also agree with dmccc that it will be good to see the education tax separate from the property tax. I think Winnipeg is the only place in the country that does this, am I correct?