Why did our city council allow city hall to grow so big when Owen Sound has not grown at all in the last 20 years? Are they caving to the city manager instead of looking out for taxpayers?

We need the Mayor to explain why this has been allowed to happen and what he’s going to do about it.

Scott Robinson

A most interesting dissertation on the City's tax burden. A personal observation on the art gallery from when I used to work before retiring. From 2003 to 2008 when I was a Canada Post mailman my route centered around the Library and art gallery, I was past the two facilities around the noon hour on my morning route and around 1 pm and 3:00 pm on the afternoon section. I observed maybe a half dozen people entering the gallery each year. Hardly a tourist attraction when you have those sort of numbers. At best this facility should be run by volunteers and no public funds. The City picks up the utility bills and property taxes so there is no need for public funds. Let the volunteers raise any further funds.

As for Public Transit it is a lost cause. The buses remain pretty well empty. At a bare minimum this service should be cut back to Monday to Friday and none on Saturday. Saturday is the same as Sunday: schools and Georgian College are closed, hospital is minimally staffed, vast majority of doctor's offices are closed. The service simply is not needed on weekends.

Another topic that the author missed is the Bayshore/Rec Center. These two make the above seem like small potatoes. Who would have thought the Rec Center would be so hugely over budget when built and the boosters neglected to mention that the operating deficit for EACH would be $500,000 per annum. The late Peter Lemon while on council said the Rec Center's debt would be financed from the interest reaped from the sale of Georgian Bay Energy. Just when will this white elephant be paid off and those funds be used on road improvements? It has been over 10 years since it opened. A city of 22,000 simply cannot fund two money pits that cater to winter sports. One of them has to close.

How about the City do a cost/benefit analysis of having the Attack in town? Seems like since Junior A hockey came to the Scenic City in 1989 our population has plateaued and we have had a rash of major employer departures. I think that we were sold a bucket of used pucks when the hockey proponents boasted that a Junior A franchise would put Owen Sound "on the map" and that there would be huge economic benefits. Unfortunately the opposite has happened.

Only good thing is the City has got rid of the Airport. I believe that we do not miss the Airport and we would not miss the Art Gallery or Junior A hockey. After all the City's economy does not collapse when hockey season is over. The savings could be immense by getting rid of the franchise. JOHN PICKETT.

JOHN PICKETT

My taxes are now higher than my mortgage ever was. Im at 8,000.oo a year (600 a month) now in property taxes, get no garbage removal, plow might come by after 3 days of storm, seen people stuck on our street. This has to stop, not sure where they think we get our money from but these frauds rob us of other luxuries in life.

Wayne Behner

Time to audit Owen Sound Financials for the last 15 years...How did staffing levels get so much higher than other municipalities of our size? Why do we have so many managers for a town of 21.000? Every year taxes go up 2.5 to 3 % ..seniors are struggling to keep up with the property taxes.. we just can't afford 63 city staff making over 100.000 a year .

Ken Baker

This is really alarming to read these facts....our workforce is so out of line when compared with municipalities of similar size...I can see now why we are in the highest residential taxes in Ontario....this requires immediate action on behalf of OS taxpayers...⁶

Ken Baker

I just did a quick calculation. For every week that Council fails to address the over staffing problem at city hall it costs Owen Sound taxpayers $76,923

Janice Smid

There is no doubt the author of this, and other, very important material has a comprehensive background and the ability to express not only problems...... but also solutions that need to be considered by Owen Sound Council. This is a crucial time for our elected officials to at least allow the author to make a personal presentation to Council so there can be no defensible reasons for not being aware of the facts.

Ken Jones

I think your advice on staff reductions is right on. City staff have grown well beyond what is needed to run a city of our size. Do you think they have the courage to address this issue? If they don't we will continue to have chronic problems at city hall.

Helen Bronson

73 employees making over 100.000 a year in a town of 21.000....thats disgusting!!...no wonder Owen Sound taxes are so high.....this needs to be investigated at once. ..there is a real clique at city hall...time Owen Sound taxpayers got relief from unbelievable property taxes....Way past time for city manager to set this unjustice straight...get on it!!

Ken Baker

Always said . City hall was way overstuffed....with more managers than surrounding towns our size.....size... another way to save the taxpayers money is by having a mixture of volunteers and full time fire men.. a composite fire department....Owen Sound is one of the last small towns in Canada to have all full time firemen....Seems to be a sacred cow here in this town to make the change..

KenBaker

I read your previous post on exactly what council did in approving the budget. First it was good to see staff presented a budget with a very small increase. However it was extremely disappointing that our elected representatives did not pair this down even more to give us a small tax reduction. Instead our trusted elected representatives actually increased spending to add to the increase. Then the mayor had the audacity to brag about what a good job they did. What good job? They added to the increase - that's not good!

John Britten

I recall last year our council gave the transit a $500,000 budget increase that it turned out they didn’t need because the contract came in much lower than anticipated. Was that where the budget reductions came from to enable the tax increase of less than 1%? If so this was really an illusion or slight of hand so stand by for a big tax increase next year.

Helen Bronson

BROKEN PROMISES Both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor talked about reducing taxes during the election The Deputy Mayor even promised to create a Budget Committee. However when given a chance to do something they actually added to the tax increase in the draft budget. Sad 😞

Judy Grimes

Council needs to do something about the high taxes in Owen Sound. Why do we pay so much more in salaries than larger cities? If Owen Sound was a business the CEO and COO would be fired and the city would likely be in bankruptcy. It’s only been a few months since the election and already our elected officials have stopped listening to us.

Walter Robertson

Hi, we can't afford to have our taxes increased anymore because with inflation etc. My brother desperately wants to move back to Owen Sound but the taxes are driving him and other's away. Why do you think we don't have any industry? Because of the high taxes. I'm voting against the 2023 taxes increase. Regards Denise Court

Denise Court

We pay over four thousand dollars per year for taxes and have lived in the same house for 13 years about roads haven't been fixed or any thing else? We pay for our garbage disposal plus numerous other thing's.

Denise Court

Thanks for reminding council of the job that we elected them to do. I just read your letter to them in the Hub and followed a link to your site. I also read the budget presentation from the links you posted. When did the city do that budget survey and who are the taxpayers who think that a 2% tax increase is appropriate? I like your idea of a 2% tax reduction much better.

John Britten

Helen Bronson

Did you get any feedback from our elected officials on your suggestions?

Helen Bronson

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