Derrick Rabethge

City/Township Council · Kitchener Ward 2

All topics Housing Getting Around Climate Food Growth & Planning Budget & Taxes

Budget & Taxes

Do you think the Region's or municipality's budget process should be more transparent and accessible to residents?single choice

It should be more transparent and accessible

Municipal and regional costs have generally risen faster than revenues restricted by property tax rules and limited local revenue tools. How would you balance tax increases against maintaining service levels and long-term financial sustainability?select up to 3 per part

A. Revenue approaches

Prioritize not increasing taxes and service fees, Increased cost recovery by increasing user fees (e.g. recreation programs, parking, transit fares)
Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation

D. Growth & cost recovery

Ensure new development pays a greater share of long-term infrastructure costs
Re-evaluate development incentives or subsidies that create long-term liabilities
Maintain current growth and cost-sharing approaches

B. Service levels

Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
Reduce discretionary programs to protect core services

C. Capital & infrastructure

Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure
Defer or cancel capital projects with low long-term return on investment

Please describe one concrete example of a trade-off you would support (or oppose) when costs rise faster than revenues.candidate's own words

I am a fiscal hawk and in this current economical crisis it is important that the municipality of Kitchener does not over burden or Tax its current citizens in a way to help with the cost of living. I would heavily side with pouring through the books and the budget and finding ways to cost cut and eliminate wasteful spending, as well as programs that are not hitting their intended targets and or fulfilling their cost/benefit analysis. It should not be a an accepted view that taxes should just have to go up 5%, 10%, whatever % every year just because council doesn't want to go through the arduous process of eliminating waste and or frivolous programs on the books to be able to maintain current taxation levels or even cut taxes what a novel idea.

If you chose "It should be more transparent and accessible", please describe how.candidate's own words

Residents are the taxpayers and they should have full access to every cent spent at the city as well as at the region and it should be much more readily available and easier to see and understand. This will avoid shortfalls, money getting lost, corruption and many other fiscal management issues. This also would allow the citizenry the ability to see exactly where their money is being spent and if Taxation is justified based on expenditures.