PelhamToday recieved the following letter to the editor from reader Don Rodbard in response to the story Regional Council approves 7.02% operating budget increase for 2024
Who is surprised that the original 9% budget increase announcement was simply a ruse so that they could slide through a 7% increase after heroically making a few cuts?
That's the first thing that is objectionable about this budget performance.
The other two are:
1. "Regional Chair Jim Bradley, who on Nov. 23 had even broached the possibility of the Region formally rejecting the police budget, which could have triggered an appeal to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) by the Police Board ... ". The question we should all be asking is: Why doesn't Council show some guts and simply tell the Chief of Police to start managing better or else! Likewise for the Police Board. And, if necessary, tell the Tribunal to butt out! A bit old school perhaps, but maybe that's what we need – get me results or get lost!
2. "While Transit Staff had suggested mitigation options that would have reduced the budget increase from 7.8 percent to 6.3 percent, the NTC rejected any changes sending a correspondence to the Regional Chair and Council confirming their original budget submission." Why no very aggressive pushback? And why haven't a few heads rolled at NTC? Am I being too "old school" again?
Regional Councillors, you are supposed to be there looking out for our interests – 7% budget increases definitely don't qualify. You really have to do better or perhaps your constituents will go "old school" at the next election!
Don Rodbard
Fonthill
