Sam Hiemstra
City/Township Council · Wilmot Ward 4
Back to candidatesThis candidate finalized their responses after this guide and scoring methodology was published.
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
- Moderate, predictable tax increases to maintain service levels
- Actively pursue provincial and federal transfer funding and grants
- Exploring new local revenue tools where permitted by provincial legislation
D. Growth & cost recovery
No response B. Service levels
- Maintain current service levels, even if taxes rise
- Adjust service delivery models to reduce costs without reducing access
C. Capital & infrastructure
- Require lifecycle cost analysis before approving any new infrastructure