by Allen McKay, Property Taxpayers Alliance Manager Niagara Region
Niagara falls city council cost local taxpayers $528,000 in 2024. Welland City Council received a report last week outlining their councilors cost $591,386 for local taxpayers in 2024.
Now imagine, across Niagara we have 126 politicians and the costs to the local taxpayer.
What is more concerning is in addition to all these political positions; Niagara region has 13 different CAO all making well over $150,000 annually; 11 separate fire services with 2 separate fire dispatch services. The Niagara region has planning departments, numerous economic development officers and the list goes on. There is plenty of duplication and opportunities for amalgamation and cost efficiencies.
There has been little to no changes in the way Niagara has been governed in the last 50 years. Niagara has demonstrated time and time again their inability to work together for a better Niagara and continue to work in silos at the detriment to Niagara taxpayers. Politicians in Niagara are so preoccupied with protecting their own lower tier municipality they are powerless to make significant governance changes.
One has to ask if this is more about self-preservation for local politicians versus doing what is best for Niagara taxpayers and its citizens.
The Property Taxpayers Alliance is heavily lobbying the Ontario government to put legislation into effect that puts guardrails onto municipalities whose councils cannot control their spending. I encourage you to review the work that is being done by this group by visiting www.propertytaxpayer.ca and requesting a copy of their newsletter.
If your tired of seeing your property taxes being wasted, it’s time to have your voice heard and reach out to Rob Fleck the new minister of municipal and housing affairs. Let him know how you feel about the cost of municipal government.
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