PROPOSED CUTS TO KANATA SOUTH SERVICES UNACCEPTABLE

If all of the cuts proposed in the draft 2008 city budget were implemented, our community would be hit hard. Whether you drive, walk or use transit it would be harder to get around. Recreation facilities would be closed and prices increased for using arenas or sports fields. Maintenance levels for parks and roadsides would be lower than what they were after the 2004 budget.

Obviously these cuts are unacceptable. I am committed to ensuring city services that people in our community value are protected and I will be working to that in the budget debate.

Among the cuts proposed to achieve a zero percent tax increase that will affect Kanata South are:

• Reducing roadside grass cutting to three times a year
• Closing the Katimavik outdoor pool
• Eliminating the improvements to snow ploughing and ice control that were made in 2004 to cope with the effects of climate change
• Eliminating evening and weekend services on a number of bus routes
• Increasing arena rental rates for hockey and figure skating to $210/hour
• Increasing sports field rentals for adult sports to recover 100% of the operating cost
• Increasing sports field rentals for children’s sports to cover 50% of the operating cost
• Removing adult crossing guards from locations where service was added in 2007 – in Kanata South this will be the crossing guards at Sewell and McCurdy and Sewell and Castlefrank
• Delaying redevelopment of the Glen Cairn pool
• Eliminating funding for outdoor rinks in parks
• Eliminating funding to help agencies delivering services like meals on wheels cover the cost of inflation
• Delaying construction of the Kanata North Recreation Complex, which will result in overcrowding at existing Kanata Recreation facilities
• Eliminate graffiti removal, except for hate graffiti

REMINDER – BUDGET CONSULTATION MEETING NOVEMBER 27

It is important that people let councillors know that how you feel about the proposed budget. The West End budget consultations will be on Tuesday November 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Ron Maslin Playhouse. I hope to see you there.

SOLUTIONS TO BUDGET GAP MUST ADD UP

No one sees a tax increase as a good thing and an option that prevents a tax increase or reduces the need for one without affecting services should be supported – if it will work. However, if Council approves a budget without having a clear sense of where savings will be found, then it will either be left to staff to decide where cuts are made or we will end the year with a deficit. That is unacceptable.

The $85,000 consultant’s report that the Mayor released at the same time as the budget makes a number of suggestions for savings. The suggestions should be looked at. In many cases the suggestions are measures that city staff have already included in the budget. However, for there is not enough detail in the consultant’s report for either councillors or the public to be sure that remaining suggestions will achieve the savings that it is claimed they will.

In some cases the suggestions contradict what Kanata residents have said they expect. According to the Mayor’s consultant, senior managers need more performance bonuses, which effectively increases their pay. Another suggestion is that instead of checks and balances to prevent things like financial irregularities, spot checks would be sufficient.

MEETING TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ON PARATRANSPO

To provide people with a chance to raise concerns or questions about ParaTranspo Service, I am holding a public meeting with ParaTranspo and OC Transpo. The meeting will be:

Monday, November 26
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lion Dick Brûlé Community Centre
170 Castlefrank Road, Kanata

WORKING FULL-TIME FOR KANATA SOUTH

I appreciate the chance to hear from you about issues affecting our community. You can reach me at 580-2752 (office), 580-2762 (fax), www.feltmateforkanata.com or peggy.feltmate@ottawa.ca