‘Common Sense’ says City Council should avoid potentially massive tax increase

Submitted by Common Sense Red Deer

By Chad Krahn

More than a month later than normal, the City has finally released its proposed budget adjustments.

The numbers give Council – and the public – a much clearer picture of the City’s finances.

They’re not great.

They’re not even good.

In fact, the picture the proposals paint is pretty bleak.

The City is facing a $16.1 million shortfall, and is rapidly approaching its debt limit.

The reserves are also nearly gone as a result of using those funds to cover the shortfall in previous years instead of making a major course correction.

The tax increase to make up the shortfall is in the double digits – 10.65 per cent.

That’s a huge increase, but it’s made even worse by the fact that there’s no extravagant infrastructure project or big spending item on the books – it’s simply to maintain the operational status quo.

Let that sink in. For the City to continue offering the same level of services, they will need to raise taxes by 10.65 per cent.

Compare that with Statistics Canada’s November inflation rate – and Alberta’s projected 2024 inflation rate – of 2.5 per cent.

The City’s expenses are outpacing inflation and, more importantly, economic growth.

Council will hopefully do its best to soften the blow when the budget adjustments are actually debated later this month, but the built-in deficits that have crept into the budgeting process are going to haunt us.

Nearly every other municipality had their budget debates take place in November, but Red Deer’s are taking place on January 23-26.

Council will be left with the unenviable decision to either raise taxes, cut services, drain reserves or sell off assets.

If only there had been a way to prevent this.

Where are the learnings from the last few years? Where is the commitment to incremental improvement? A system of asking the front line staff ‘what is the next simple thing we can do to make this better’ to find that smart, bottom-up change. Taking that feedback to innovate and automate the way the City does business before we end up staring down big tax increases and no economic growth.

Red Deer’s population has largely plateaued, and consequently, so have housing starts.

Contrast that with other cities in Alberta – Calgary, Edmonton, and Lethbridge are all seeing their populations grow and new homes being built.

Alberta as a whole had such high rates of interprovincial migration that they ended their “Alberta Is Calling” program, originally designed to attract people to the province.

Worse still, Red Deer has the highest unemployment rate for a major region in Alberta.

Why is Red Deer stagnant?

The status quo approach to business hasn’t worked. The City interacting with business the same way it always has is producing diminishing returns.

We need a Council Committee on Red Tape Reduction, along with a dedicated commitment to reexamine the building code and a promise to industry to have a guaranteed turnaround time on issuing permits.

The downward trend in economic growth should have already set a five-alarm fire for the City. After all, they had to know how dire the financial situation already was.

Alberta is growing, and comparable cities across the province are all growing, but Red Deer’s graph is pointing in the wrong direction. The budget document even says that the city’s economic development resources are spread too thin and generally focused on land development and sales.

It also notes that economic leaders should all be in alignment, but the budget documents admit that the alignment isn’t there.

Getting our economic drivers aligned should be a top priority – getting all of Team Red Deer firing on all cylinders needs to happen immediately.

We can’t wait until some new report comes out in 2025.

We know what the problems are.

We’ve known for a long time.

This is an incredible place to live, yet somehow, the story is going untold.

Red Deer could be so much more.

Chad Krahn is the Executive Director of Common Sense Red Deer.

Related Topics:#ChadKrahn #CommonSenseRedDeer #RedDeerCityCouncil #RedDeerTaxIncrease feature

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Over 25 Canadian cities support initiative designating December as Christian Heritage Month

Published on November 5, 2024

Todayville

From LifeSiteNews

By Anthony Murdoch

Major cities that have signed on include Ajax, Durham, Sudbury, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls in Ontario, Alberta municipalities Red Deer and Okotoks, and Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. In British Columbia, Whistler and Prince George have also signed the petition.

More than 25 Canadian municipalities signed onto a proclamation declaring December as “Christian Heritage Month.”

The proclamation also asks provinces to take the initiative to declare the last month of the year in recognition of Christianity as an important part of Canadian heritage given the fact other faiths have special months of their own.

Major cities that have signed on include Ajax, Durham, Sudbury, Mississauga, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls in Ontario, Alberta municipalities Red Deer and Okotoks, and Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. In British Columbia, Whistler and Prince George have also signed the petition.

All of the cities have pledged to bring forth legislation that enshrines December as Christian Heritage Month into local law. Many have already done so.

The move by Canadian cities comes after the federal government and provincial governments have yet to proclaim December as Chrisitan Heritage Month.

According to the Christian Heritage Month Initiative, its mission is to have December “declared as Christian Heritage Month, recognizing the values of love, service, and compassion that define the Christian community.”

“The Christian Heritage Month Initiative is a dynamic, multi-denominational movement dedicated to celebrating the vibrant cultural, social, and artistic contributions of Canada’s Christian community,” the initiative says.

The initiative is under the leadership of Jay and Molly Banerjei, who are behind the Christian Music Festival. The organization says that the initiative “unites diverse voices and fosters a sense of belonging, enriching our nation’s identity and promoting inclusivity for all.”

Looking at Mississauga’s recent council motion that designates December as Christian Heritage Month, councillors have said its province under Premier Doug Ford should do the same.

It reads that Christianity is among the “diverse faiths followed by Mississauga residents and one of the most followed religions in Canada and Mississauga. Christians have made valuable contributions to the cultural, social, religious, and humanitarian fabric of our city and have played an important role in shaping our diverse community.”

The Mississauga motion also makes a point that December is “marked by significant events and celebrations in the Christian calendar, commencing with the observance of Advent and culminating in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which is also known as Christmas.”

“Christian organizations and places of worship in Mississauga offer religious services, unique events, and initiatives that highlight a strong Christian heritage during the month of December,” and it’s “also widely associated with the tradition of gift giving and the gathering of family, friends, and people of all faiths, during the Christmas season,” its councillors wrote.

“Recognizing the month of December, which is a significant month in the Christian calendar, as Christian Heritage Month provides an opportunity for all residents to celebrate the history, traditions, and teachings of the Christian faith, promoting understanding and appreciation of the diverse religious and cultural heritage of our city.”

Canada is historically a nation founded on Christian ideals and principles. European settlers who came to Canada from France and then later from what is the modern-day United Kingdom were Christian and included missionaries who tried to spread the faith to the local Indigenous populations.

Canada has observed Christmas since 1641, well before its official founding, according to some historical records.

As reported by LifeSiteNews, Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) MPs have urged all Canadians to support a petition that calls on the federal government to proclaim December as “Christian Heritage Month.”

Last year, CPC MP Marilyn Gladu introduced a Private Member’s Bill C-369 that would designate December as “Christian Heritage Month,” saying this is only the “fair and right” thing to do.

The bill reads that “In the negotiations that brought about Confederation, Canada was originally named ‘Dominion of Canada,’ a name reportedly inspired by the passage in the Bible (King James Version) at Psalm 72:8, which says, ‘He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.’”

The bill states that December in Canada marks “significant events and celebrations in the Christian calendar, from the beginning of Advent to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ; And whereas, according to Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Population, Christianity is the largest religion in Canada, with over half of Canadians identifying as Christian.”

City of Red Deer

City Council looking for options to reduce hundreds of encampments

Published on September 14, 2024

City of Red Deer

New actions for response to urban encampments being considered by City Council

New actions for The City’s response to urban encampments will be considered by Council on Monday, with a focus on interim and long-term solutions to homelessness. The proposed actions include everything from maintaining a balanced mitigation strategy to exploring interim housing solutions.

The report comes in response to Councillor Lee’s Notice of Motion re: Urban Encampment Responses that Council approved during the 2024 budget debate. The report reviews the past five years of data, analyzes service levels, and evaluates Corporate Administrative Policy 3141C – Urban Encampment Response. The key recommendations in the report focus on providing a balanced approach to mitigating the effects of encampments while working towards long-term solutions for homelessness. These recommendations include:

Consistent Mitigation: Maintain The City’s current approach to encampment responses, ensuring the most balanced mitigation strategy available at this time to protect public lands while supporting vulnerable individuals.
Advocacy for Shelter Strategy: Council will continue to advocate to the Government of Alberta for a comprehensive shelter strategy, including the development of a low-barrier 24/7 emergency shelter with a Recovery-Oriented System of Care.
Review of Transitional Housing: Request that the Housing and Homelessness Integrated Committee (HHIC) review the potential for new transitional housing infrastructure as an interim solution to support individuals transitioning out of homelessness.

“The City’s current policy is still achieving its target of having sites cleaned within 14 days. Despite a substantial increase in encampments, responses have continued to be increasingly efficient, largely due to enhanced relationships and experience levels,” said Jodi Kelloway, Acting Superintendent, Social Wellness and Integration Supports. “In recent months, we have seen a significant rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness, with shelters operating at or near capacity. Many individuals living in encampments have limited or no alternative options available. It is important that we continue to improve our response while building capacity within the housing continuum that considers current realities and the unique needs of community members who are unsheltered. The actions we propose in today’s report are about building and expanding on what we already do.”

Under the current policy, The City has a level of service that urban encampments, debris, and belongings are to be removed within 14 days of an initial report, 90 per cent of the time. While The City’s current response to urban encampments is effective, with 98 per cent of camps being cleaned up within 14 days, the number of encampments continues to rise. In 2023 alone, 881 encampments were dismantled, with a projected overall increase of 75 per cent by the end of 2024.

Costs related to encampment clean-up have reached approximately $2.87 million over the last five years, shared among several City departments, including Parks, Public Works, and Emergency Services. Despite increased efficiency, the growing number of encampments presents ongoing challenges and concerns.

The City’s Encampment Assertive Outreach team continues to engage individuals living in encampments, providing referrals to social and housing services. However, the report notes that many individuals face barriers to accessing shelter due to personal circumstances, such as the need for privacy, the ability to be with their partners, accommodation for pets or possessions, highlighting the ongoing need for tailored solutions.

Councillor Lee’s January 8, 2024, Notice of Motion called for administration to consider the following:

Reducing the time to dismantle encampments.
Preventing establishment of encampments.
Connecting rough sleepers with social supports and understanding overall community shelter capacity.
Develop recommendations for individuals setting up or using encampments to encourage them to seek alternative shelter.
How much money The City has spent on the cleanup of encampments over the past five years, and how much subsidy, if any, has been provided by other levels of government.
Including the continuum of housing that is currently available in Red Deer and what is needed.
That Administration report to council on the progress of the review of Corporate Administrative Policy 3141C – Urban Encampment Response”.

“The City of Red Deer is committed to supporting the health and safety of those sleeping rough, citizens who are enjoying parks, trails and public spaces, and staff responding to encampments,” said City Manager Tara Lodewyk. “Unfortunately, urban encampment work is a very short-term solution to a very complex health, housing, and public safety need in our community. The ability to reduce homelessness in Red Deer is significantly impacted by the lack of affordable and supportive housing supply. Until this is resolved, we will continue in this cycle of clean up.”

More detailed information is available in the City Council report located on the Council Meetings and Schedule page.