Yes, taxes are up; revenues are down

Re: Calgarians upset about the tax hike; Coun. Farkas is right and Mayor Nenshi is wrong about how constituents feel, Opinion, June 3

I read with interest about Calgarians being upset over their property taxes increasing. What did these people expect given the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic!

For many years to come, we will be faced with the necessity of tax increases and I am willing to pay my share. I am a retired widow of very modest means, without a car, whose property taxes have also increased. Once a week, I take the bus to do grocery shopping. Ridership is down about 90 per cent so sometimes I am the only passenger.

Since mid-march, the city has lost thousands in transit revenue, and transit is only one example of what our taxes pay for. Coun. Jeromy Farkas did not support raising taxes, as he prides himself in being controversial. However, if he were ever to become our mayor, he would need to finally see the light.

Linda Roy, Calgary