WEST ISLAND KEEPS FIGHTING FOR BALANCE
Beaconsfield takes legal step to reclaim what it says is overpayment of agglomeration fees
It's that time of the year again — when West Islanders living in demerged cities find out how much of their taxes will be allotted to a regional body that is effectively under the complete control of Montreal.
Suburban mayors are invited to the show, but the weighted voting procedures set by the province mean West Island mayors attend agglomeration meetings where everything is essentially rubber-stamped by Montreal. Their nay votes are merely a vain protest and they have no chance of overturning any projects or costs pushed by Montreal. It's true a majority vote on council is considered basic democracy, but West Island residents living in demerged cities can argue that with at least half of their property taxes destined for agglo coffers, it's a case of taxation without real representation.
After Montreal tabled its budget for 2021 last week, the Association of Suburban Mayors, which represents more than 250,000 citizens living in demerged cities, stated the basis for determining the quota shares of the demerged municipalities is inequitable and that it objects in the way costs for agglomeration services are allocated.
Paying the agglo under protest doesn't seem to have moved the needle for demerged cities and their repeated calls for a better democratic approach.
Well, the city of Beaconsfield is now boldly launching legal proceedings to reclaim approximately $2 million per year from the government of Quebec and the City of Montreal. Beaconsfield feels it overpaid for agglomeration services since 2020. It asserts the overpayment is because of a change made to the algorithm used to establish the proportionate shares of the 16 related municipalities on the island of Montreal for such regional services as police, public transit and water.
It faces an uphill battle for sure, but I think Beaconsfield should be applauded for taking legal recourse, hopefully drawing Montreal and Quebec into negotiating an out-of-court settlement for a fairer quota-sharing deal with suburban cities.
Improving transparency over agglo spending habits and regional priorities would also be welcomed by West Island cities, especially over downtown enhancement projects that are deemed shared costs by Montreal.
Some past suggestions that have so far gone unrealized are a possible veto for the 15 demerged cities at the agglo and setting up independent boards to oversee water and public security services.
Consider some of the sums facing West Island cities: Next year, Dorval, with 20,000 residents, will pay the agglo almost $71.9 million, representing a 4.5-per-cent increase from 2020. Pointe-claire, with about 33,400 residents, will pay the agglo just under $65 million in 2021, an increase of 3.7 per cent from this year's share.
The agglo is also banking on smaller towns to deliver. BaieD'urfé, with 3,900 residents, is to send over about $13 million in 2021, a six-per-cent hike from this year. Senneville, a village municipality with about 980 residents, has a $3.2-million quota share, up two per cent from 2020.
As a former Beaconsfield city councillor sardonically alluded to on social media, it seems that the West Island is far too often nothing but an ATM for the agglomeration.