A decade of tax hikes just to fix our roads?
September 10, 2008
That’s what an engineering prof is proposing
, at any rate.
Edmonton property taxes should rise four per cent annually for the next decade just to help put crumbling roads and sidewalks into decent shape, a University of Alberta
That’s only the start of a $2.9-billion program needed to overhaul decaying city infrastructure that on average is in poor or very poor condition, in one out of five neighbourhoods, Prof. Simaan Abou Rizk told council’s transportation and public works committee.
He warned that unless more money is spent on the problem and more attention is paid to fixing roads and other structures before they deteriorate too badly, 56 per cent of communities will be in that condition by 2039.
…
Abou Rizk agreed the proposed tax hikes, in addition to money the city will need to pay for police, transit, parks and the rest of its operations, might be hard for some people to swallow.
“I showed this presentation to my wife. She almost fell off her chair, (saying) ‘What do you mean, four per cent a year for 10 years? That’s crazy.’”
I guess this is the price we pay for electing a tire salesman as our mayor for all those years. ;)
