How do you feel about a tax increase?
OK, there’s no need to be rude.
I ask the question because we’re approaching that magical period they call budget time in Drayton Valley, Brazeau County and other municipalities around Alberta. Edmonton is apparently looking at a five percent property tax hike. Calgary may be looking at something more. But we’ve yet to see what’s going to happen closer to home.
My current wife and I live in a house that a real estate agent would describe as cozy, but most people would just call small. That presents a challenge if we want to have more than two people over at a time, or if we decide we’d like to swing a cat in the living room. But it does come with one distinct advantage. A small house equals a lower property tax bill. So the reality for us is that an increase of, for example, five percent, really doesn’t add up to all that much money. When all’s said and done at the end of the year we’re probably not going to notice that extra eighty bucks or so.
So a tax hike shouldn’t be that big a deal for us. But somehow it doesn’t feel that way.
These days it seems like we’re getting nickeled and dimed to death. It’s both mentally and emotionally exhausting. The price of gas is frankly ridiculous. A visit to the grocery store is as much fun as a rectal exam from a leper. And I’m sure absolutely nobody, except perhaps the power company, is looking forward to seeing their heating bill this winter.
Don’t get me wrong. I know we’re in better shape than a lot of folks. We’re paying all the bills without too much sweat. There’s gas in the car and food in the cupboard. So a reasonable tax increase certainly wouldn’t be a body blow to our bottom line.
But the bit of cash left over every month for life’s little luxuries is starting to look more than a little stretched. A tax increase wouldn’t be a disaster. But it would be an irritant, like finding a rock in your shoe when you’re already running late. It’s not something that’s going to ruin my life. But it’s another little niggle on top of a dozen other little niggles. One mosquito bite probably isn’t going to bother you that much. But a dozen or more is likely to drive you absolutely bonkers.
Inflation is not the fault of your municipal government. It’s a global problem that’s far beyond the control of anyone around these parts. Meanwhile, snow removal costs money. So does pothole repair. The reason you never see privately run pools or skating rinks is that they are wildly expensive to operate. And if you have to ask what it costs to pave a road, then you can’t afford it.
Municipal budgeting is no picnic. To a large extent it’s about making sure the money’s in place to meet the community’s needs and then seeing if there’s any left over to cover some of the wants. It’s not easy striking the right balance. Everybody wants different things. Someone is always going to be unhappy.
I hope it’s not me.
