Council misjudged building costs

After reading the Jan. 16 Scope, I find I have to ask you this question. Is it true? Is it true that 40 per cent of the town's budget increase is going to pay for the cost of the new Taj Ma-town hall and rec centre? If it is, present re-elected members of council, and past members have made the most colossal blunder in the history of this town, and put the taxpayers, and the entire town in jeopardy.

Did they park their brains in a cloud somewhere? Even a child has more fiscal responsibility with their allowance than the council has shown over the last five years, or whenever they dreamed up this scheme to build the Innisfil Tower of Babel. Did they decide to do it so that their names could be forever etched on a plack? Just between me and you, I wouldn't want to take any credit for this fiasco.

Obviously, the council has no concept of saving for the future, staying out of debt and living within their means. They have been very cavalier with taxpayers' hard-earned money.

What the council has done is put a millstone around the neck of every resident in this town, the biggest milestones being those on our children. This financial burden is untenable. It will affect our future indefinitely. There is no getting out from under this one.

Needs and wants: Do they know the difference? Apparently not! Yes, the town needed more office space. No, the town didn't need an incredibly ugly white elephant. Yes, Alcona needed some kind of rec centre. No, the town didn't need to put it in the middle of nowhere, inaccessible to the residents who need it most and have no public transportation to get there (I suppose that's next, so they can bump up our taxes another double digits next year). Do they really believe there will be enough people using the rec centre to make it even close to being financially feasible? Not in my lifetime, nor my childrens'.

How many roads are now not going to be surfaced or repaired? What infrastructure is going to go by the wayside or be indefinitely deferred because of this lack of good fiscal management?

Last month, we had garbage pickup twice, that's it. And we're paying almost $5,500 annually in taxes for that kind of service? And now it's going up another $690, what is that? And what travesty will be faced in 2009 or 2010?

We've heard so much rhetoric about the council wanting to develop Innisfil so that it stands out as a unique town. Are they proud of themselves? Is this their idea of building a great town? It will be unique, all right! In a few years, parts of Innisfil will be a ghetto. In trying to solve a problem, they've created a monstrous one. And on top of everything else, there will probably be a mass exodus because families won't be able to afford to live here.

I know one thing for a fact. those individuals who supported this venture without looking at costs haven't got a clue, and have no business running this town. Who in their right mind would neglect to consider the ramifications of borrowing such an inconceivable amount of money to do this (interest rates)? Who in their right mind would forget to consider every possible aspect of the endeavour (sewers from Alcona)? Who in their right mind would overlook the inevitability of unexpected costs (delays)?

They should be hanging ther heads in shame asking for a salary increase. They haven't earned the one they've got. Perhaps, in good faith, and as an apology to the residents of this town, the council members should take a 12.7 per cent decrease in salary, Better yet, maybe letters of resignation are in order.
Terry and Martha Lindsey,
Innisfil