Amalgamation is the root of all evil

RE: Amalgamation criticism not constructive (May 2)

The author claims that to undo amalgamation would require expensive duplication of services in the towns that were amalgamated in 2000.

In 2016 alone, Hamilton officials spent $40 million on consultants for reports that they usually ignored. I think this money would more than cover any costs of de-amalgamation in all of these towns. Hamilton is now on track to spend even more on consultants in 2017.

This dysfunctional city is just too big to govern properly. In every case where amalgamation has occurred, there are no savings at all for the taxpayer. There are just no economies of scale from getting bigger. In fact, there seems to be no financial accountability now and city staff has adopted excessive spendthrift ways.

De-amalgamation has already occurred successfully in some jurisdictions where local communities got their identity back and continue to thrive. The sky did not fall.

Ancaster does pay a lower rate of taxes based on area rating. We get less service and therefore pay a lower rate but we still pay more than our fair share to the city, which is now really on life support and only propped up by suburban tax revenue.

I would like the smug supporters of amalgamation to consider this scenario. In the near future, Hamilton gets amalgamated with Burlington and Oakville to form a super city, ostensibly for savings which will never ever materialize. Hamilton loses its independence and has a couple of reps on a super board located in Oakville. How are you liking amalgamation now? Carl Fiamelli, Ancaster