Sample Tax Example

Please find the below example, while i am not at liberty to give names or addresses, residents i am sure will relate.


A resident in Ward 14, living in an average home on an average residential lot pays roughly 4200 dollars a year.


A resident in Ward 7, living in an average home on an average residential lot pays roughly 3400 dollars a year.


To compare and contrast I will briefly layout the differences in service.




Ward 14 has:
Paved roads
Access to education
minimal to below average snow removal
Garbage pick up weekly (1 bag limit)
Limited Police service
Limited access to fire services






Ward 7 has:
Paved roads
Access to education
timely snow removal
Garbage pick up weekly (1 bag limit)
total Police service
total access to fire services
City water
City sewer
Full access to pubic transportation




The question to ask is why are the residents in Ward 14 paying for services that they are not receiving? Why are the residents of Ward 14 paying 23% more then a resident in Ward 7?


If area rating is employed then where is the justification for that 23%? I realize that the city has taken away for transit, etc but on a basic service scale Ward 14 is over charged. Parks as an example are a basic tax standard yet access to parks in Ward 14 compared to that of Ward 7 are night and day, certainly not justifying a higher tax base. Just because this is the only system we have does not mean its the only system that will work. This is what i referred to as leveraged population in another post. All the city has done is take the overall tax burden and desplaced it over more residents (this causes an increase to rural residents and a decrease to urban residents, all while maintaning a "reasonable" budget). What i am saying is that we have a problem with the system. Maybe area rating is the right way to go but lacks all the proper exclusions to make things a little more fair and "area rated".






The residents of Ward 14 made a choice to live here. This does not mean however that they should be forced to choose between dinner with the kids and paying their taxes. Someone has to stand up and ensure that this habit of disrespect ends.

This October, vote for me, Steven Knowles.

I will give meaning to your tax dollars.

I will ensure proper treatment of your needs.

I will make sure your voice is heard and protected!