4.5%

City of Guelph 2008 Operating and Capital budgets highlights:
20 Minute bus service
Funding for Hospice Wellington and Guelph General Hospital’s MRI
Increased life cycle reserve

Neighbourhood Group funding

The co-chair of the Neighbourhood Support Coalition Finance Committee, will be making a presentation to Council this evening asking that Council consider an increase in funding to the City’s neighbourhood groups. Funding has remained unchanged in past years while the number of Neighbourhood Groups and their activities and programs have grown considerably.

Neighbourhood Support Coalition

I had the pleasure of facilitating the Fireside Chat that several councillors shared with Chairs from the Neighbourhood Support Coalition in October of 2007. On that evening it was heartening to hear so many councillors support this resident-led, non-governmental organization. Members of the NSC shared with me that they are appearing as a delegation this [...]

Tax hike: likely four to five per cent

The following article appeared in the February 6 edition of the Guelph Mercury:
It’s crunch time at city hall. Last night, staff presented the first half of the proposed 2008 budget to council. There were no decisions. The three-hour meeting was mostly preparation for budget night.
One major issue is whether the budget will include 20-minute bus [...]

Guelph City Budget

Dear sir;
Until such a time as the City’s aging infrastructure is properly addressed,and the City is in a better financial position, capital expenditures such as a new library and a new museum should be take right off the table and placed on the back burner. This is something tax payers can’t afford and really don’t [...]

Infrastructure shortfall needs $25M injection

The following article appeared in the January 31 edition of the Guelph Mercury: 
The city would have to raise taxes by about 18 per cent to pay off its infrastructure gap in a single year.
Of course, that would never happen.
But it goes a long way toward illustrating just how big the problem is.
Councillors heard last night [...]

Sidewalk snow plowing

Mr. Findlay, I recently heard that you had suggested getting rid of the Sidewalk plows in an attempt to deal with Transit costs and scheduling issues. I must say that I was surprised by your suggestion and thought you might want to rethink this one. I certainly oppose such an idea given that I witness [...]