Problems with taxes in, money out

Re: City’s tax conundrum defies an easy solution; Opinion, Oct. 23

The City of Calgary now has an annual revenue shortfall of roughly $50 million. The main cause of the shortfall is a $5.4-billion drop in the value of buildings downtown. So council is now looking to non-downtown businesses and homeowners to pick up the slack.

Empty buildings are a result of fewer businesses. Fewer businesses mean fewer jobs. Fewer jobs mean less people moving to the city. Higher taxes make Calgary a less attractive place to live.

Why is it that only one councillor sees that the mayor and his tax-and-spend mentality is part of the problem?

Jamie Fisher, Calgary