[All] Fw: Further Economic Issues regarding possible Merger Question

[Louisette Lanteigne]

Hi folks
 
I've been emailing both City of Waterloo and City of Kitchener councils with data regarding economic consequences regarding the potential merging of the City of Waterloo to the City of Kitchener. I've sent the first letter to everyone the other day. Here's the follow up correspondence for your reference. The emails for all the councillors are below if anyone wants to have a say on the matter. 
 
Night folks!
 
Lulu :0)

--- On Tue, 2/9/10, Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com> wrote:


From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
Subject: Fw: Further Economic Issues regarding possible Merger Question
To: Carl.Zehr at kitchener.ca, John.Gazzola at kitchener.ca, John.Smola at kitchener.ca, Berry.Vrbanovic at kitchener.ca, Kelly.Galloway at kitchener.ca, Geoff.Lorentz at kitchener.ca, Christina.Weylie at kitchener.ca
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 11:12 PM







Dear Mayor Zehr and Kitchener Council Members
 
Here is the second email regarding the economic issues related to the topic of a merger of Kitchener and Waterloo. 
 
Louisette Lanteigne
700 Star Flower Ave.
Waterloo Ontario
N2V 2L2

--- On Tue, 2/9/10, Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com> wrote:


From: Louisette Lanteigne <butterflybluelu at rogers.com>
Subject: Further Economic Issues regarding possible Merger Question
To: "Jan d'Ailly" <jdailly at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Diane Freeman" <dfreeman at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Brenda Halloran" <bhalloran at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Ian McLean" <imclean at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Karen Scian" <kscian at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Angela Vieth" <avieth at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Mark Whaley" <mwhaley at city.waterloo.on.ca>, "Scott Witmer" <switmer at city.waterloo.on.ca>
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 10:56 PM







   
 Dear Mayor Halloran and Waterloo City Council Members 
  
At this time, the world is experiencing a global fiscal crisis. The decline of the 
housing market, the collapse of banks and auto manufacturers, the debt of 
European nations are all taking a toll on the global economy.  Locally Waterloo 
holds a huge burden of debt in part to rising costs, in part to a woeful legacy 
associated with poor fiscal choices including RIM Park. 
  
Provincially, since March 28, 2008, there has been a 28% increase in minimum 
wage that will be fully in effect on March  2010 with the last of the three 
provincially mandated pay increases. We also have the new HST 
and according to Revenue Canada , Municipalities can only get a rebate for 78% of the PST portion of the HST. This means there will be higher costs for 
municipal projects and increases are to be expected. We also must have regard to the following economic variables: 
  
o        The global recession and national debt: Will funding be there to 
fund capital projects? 
o        Collapse of the auto sector and it's impact on local workers and 
jobs. 
o        Collapse of major banks 
o        Loss of tax revenue and the costs of unemployment 
o        LRT, the YMCA/Library  and other capital projects 
o        Climate change uncertainties re: tornados, floods and water 
contamination etc. 
o        Rising costs in the illness cost of smog 
o        Aging population and related health care costs 
o        Peak oil and adaptation needs 
o        Aging infrastructure 
o        Rising costs of materials and labour  HST, minimum wage, 
possible carbon tax, rising fuel costs etc. 
  
In all the reports I have reviewed regarding the amalgamation of cities 
across Canada, I have not found one case that has proven actual cost savings or better overall service for taxpayers. On the contrary it appears that tax increases of at least  20% are to be expected along with a degradation of community services. 
  
Employee salaries for large municipalities are much higher, litigation 
and insurance costs go up.   Here is an excellent report by Edward G. 
Campbell, III the Mayor of Gibbsboro Borough as published by the 
New Jersey State League of  Municipalities showing why small towns 
save money in compairson to larger municipalities.  
  
http://www.njslom.org/magart_0508_pg59.html 
  
In my view it is morally and ethically reprehensible for anyone to 
imply that a merger of the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo will lead to 
any reasonable measure of cost savings or added benefit to 
taxpayers. 
  
I hope this will assist you in your vote on February 22nd. 
  
Louisette Lanteigne 
700 Star Flower Ave. 
Waterloo Ontario 
N2V 2L2 
  
  
 
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