Voice of the People
I would like to know why our mayor and councillors believe they deserve salaries that either compare closely or are above that of the largest cities in Canada. For example, wouldn't you think Toronto or Vancouver could more easily pay their mayor the $200,000 that HRM's mayor, Michael Savage, is expected to make? The tax base of Toronto, I'd think, would be much larger than our city's and, therefore, substantially larger. Is it possible that we need to pay more taxes than we ought to have to pay because of this particular factor alone?
If the salaries of our politicians were lower, is it plausible that issues relating to improving our infrastructure could be more quickly dealt with? Then more funding could be allocated to infrastructure projects without having to run to the feds for assistance. Could we provide better and more adaptable transit options to those who depend upon these services just to get to workplaces that provide lowpaying jobs, if more city funding for such services was available?
I find it difficult to believe that the mayor and councillors of Halifax face the magnitude and complexity of issues facing cities which are so much larger than HRM in population. To get our elected civic leaders back to thinking with more fiscal responsibility, I'd suggest that they all seriously consider taking at least a 15 per cent decrease in salary, not a wage increase. If such a move took place, maybe these people would be in a better position to negotiate with other city employees when contract time comes for them, on behalf of taxpayers. After all, would it not be hypocritical to ask an employee who now makes a salary of $40,000 per year to be pleased with an offer of a two-per-cent raise per year, when city taxes and every other city bill is equal to or above what is being offered?
John Savage seemed way more fiscally balanced than Mike Savage. But that's just the opinion of a resident of HRM. Hopefully, I am not the only person who was more than a bit angry, emotionally and morally, when I saw the recent news relating to staff salaries of our trusted city servants. They seem more likely to be seen as our Royal civil servants.
Clarke McKenzie, Dartmouth