Taxes, spending key in Ward 14
In an area that encompasses well-established neighbourhoods with retirees and new communities filled with young professionals and families, taxes and transportation are the common ground for residents of Ward 14.
Knocking on doors throughout the area has brought both incumbent Peter Demong and his challenger Shawn Kao to homeowners and residents who have been quick to say fiscal responsibility and tax increases are front of mind as they prepare to head to the polls.
Concern over taxes is not new for this election, said Demong, but “it’s certainly gaining strength.”
The ward, which stretches from Southland Drive south to the edge of the city, between Macleod Trail — and a dogleg to include Spruce Meadows — and the Bow River, is home to some 74,000 people living in nearly 28,000 dwellings. The area includes established communities like Lake Bonavista and Willow Park, as well as new developments such as Silverado, which are home to retirees, young professionals and families.
Seniors are getting uncomfortable as more dollars from their fixed incomes are going to city coffers, while other residents would rather see lower taxation balanced out with more user-pay services, says Kao, who also ran in the last election.
Both candidates say the city needs to be responsible with its spending.
“Just because it’s public money doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be using it any more wisely,” said Demong, adding he’s doing his best to raise awareness that taxation has been at too high a rate.
Kao points to major city projects that have gone beyond their budgets as examples of why a more critical eye is needed, as well as more day-to-day efficiencies and streamlining. In the private sector, he said, great emphasis is placed on hitting targets.
“If we’re not streamlined as much as possible, we hear about it,” he said.
“We don’t have an endless pool of money to draw from.”
Mid-Sun Community Association president Devin Elkin said the conversation around taxes was certainly one he has heard out in the community, but issues around traffic, transportation and transit are also key for ward residents.
Speeders treating roads as freeways, congestion, choke points, poor infra- structure and jammed CTrain cars make for a frustrating commute.
“Traffic is definitely an issue,” said Elkin.
“These are the same problems we could have talked about four years ago and they were talking about four years before that,” he said. “We’re good at talking about them but we don’t set goals on fixing them.”
Kao said infrastructure is years behind when it comes to traffic flow and volume, contrasting Ward 14 with communities in the northwest where Crowchild Trail has overpasses and transit goes to the end of the line.
“We have continually added population to the south, but we are using the same north-south corridors,” he said. “There’s no relief.”
Demong added residents are also concerned about the amount of traffic and speed on collector roads — those that drivers use to get to major corridors — which go through playground and school zones.
A huge portion of south Calgary is basically working its way over to Deerfoot Trail, driving through communities to get to that connector, he said. And some of those drivers know they will be stalled on the Deerfoot due to congestion so they try to make up those extra few minutes by speeding.
“The ultimate solution is the southwest ring road will go through,” he said.