An open letter to Wellington County Residents and County Newspaper’s Editors.
Are you, the Taxpayer, being well represented by your elected representative at Wellington County Council?
As one of the few, very few, members of the public who attends Wellington County Committee and Council Meetings, I offer my observations to, hopefully, motivate you to get involved!
Last month County Council passed a 3 year – 3%/year wage increase for all non union County employee’s, about 600 of them, with a total cost of about $650,000 per year for 3 years, over 2 Million dollars in total. A $650,000 increase per year equates to a 1% overall increase in the tax levy, your tax levy. Only 2 Councillors, Lou Maieron and Rod Finnie, were interested in discussing the 3 year wage increase, and it was their questions that revealed the true costs and impact to the Taxpayers. In the Finance Report made available to County Councillors there was no report explaining or justifying the increases! Councillor Maieron asked his colleagues, at least twice, if there was any interest in discussing this, on behalf of the Taxpayers they represent – there was no reply!
The County of Wellington – One of Canada’s Top 100 Employers – Truly Unbelievable! A County that is predominantly agricultural, with farmland assessed at 25% of residential lands. A County with little Commercial/Industrial assessment, guess who’s paying for one of Canada’s Top 100 employees…you guessed it, you are, the Residential Taxpayer, you probably make up over 90% of the Property Tax Assessment. Congratulate yourself, you’re one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers…Do you think you are getting your money’s worth?
M.P.A.C. (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation). If you own property you have received your 2008 assessment, likely with a big increase, looks like you’ll be paying even more in Property Taxes next year! Most assessments have increased by 20-30% and more. Don’t you worry, your tax and spend Councillors will find a way to spend it, who cares if a recession or depression is looming in the horizon, just watch how they will party it up at the end of the month, celebrating being one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers – Are you invited to the party? You’re paying for it! Spend, spend, and spend, with no end in sight!
Senior staff, 2007 Comparison Study pay increases, tried it again in 2007 unsuccessfully but did manage to get hundreds of thousands more in wages in 2006. The predominantly Rural, Agricultural County was compared to large Urban centres like York, Peel and Halton Regions, cities like Toronto, Cambridge and Kitchener-Waterloo (all with high Commercial/Industrial assessments) to justify the increase. But not compared to other Rural Counties who border Wellington County, where Senior staff wages are significantly lower. I guess, now that we are a Top 100 Employer, these other places will be comparing their staff to ours, starting with your local Municipal staff…Who will want more money too! All this, so these Precious Employees won’t go anywhere else. If you ask me, most of them should go, but none of them will ever leave! They are lifers, till they’re pensioned off, and guess what? You’re paying for that too! Watch out – they will likely be asking for more wage hikes in 2009!
2009 Budget. Preliminary figures are indicating about a 5% increase, yet another 5% increase on top of all those increases you have received over all the past years. All those increases and what increases have you received in services? What services? For the average home in the County another 5% will likely add another couple of hundred or more to your County Tax Bill and if you have a high assessment, a nicer home, even more, much more. Can you afford it? Who cares? Remember 1% each year is just to pay for the increases for the Top 100.
It’s too bad we all cannot work for Wellington County, top wages, stellar benefits, a Taxpayer paid for Private Gym and lots more. Attend County Council on Oct. 30 at 10 am, 74 Woolwich Street in Guelph, seeing is believing. There’s a saying, you get the government you deserve, you apathetic lot, you keep paying for it and trust me, you’ll keep getting it, more and more of it, whether you can afford it or not! For me, I’m a retired old man, but I do remember working long hard hours, shift factory work and happy to have it, as many were let go! Or the farmer who invests early in the spring and is subject to weather events and market forces to see if a profit is to be had…no guarantees here, but likely does not need a Gym! Like I said, it’s a shame we all cannot work for Wellington County, few worries, great returns – guaranteed! There is always more money in that Taxpayer Pot! Don’t ask questions, just do your job. No, well do your best then!
Taxpayers, inform yourself and decide – Are you being well represented, or represented at all, by those you elected to Wellington County Council?
Just pay and take it eh? What can I do? If not now – When? And if not you – Who?
Alas, alas, alas - Is there no end to this Greed!

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