Our Vision A St. Albert where all can afford to live:   Taxes are affordable AND Municipal spending is in the best interest of the majority of taxpayers rather than special interest groups. Your Membership is Your VOICE Did You Know That: From 2002 to 2009; Total spending on City operations increased  92% to $121 million  Staff levels increased  over 53% to 536  permanent positions Total salaries  increased 109% to  $52 million  Cost of contract  services increased  123% to $20 million  City debt obligations  increased 302% to  $71 million  Future interest costs  increased 270% to $29  million  To cover these increases the  City increased revenues from residential and non-residential  property taxes by almost 92%!  At the same time;  St. Albert’s population grew by only 11%, and The number of dwellings increased by only 3.3% St. Albert City spending is outpacing growth and is getting out of  control! Growth in City spending since 2002 is unsustainable!  St. Albert Taxpayers Association wants Council and the Administration to: Take steps to slow runaway growth in spending on City operations Identify and prioritize “must-have” spending initiatives, and focus future spending on core needs Eliminate spending on “nice-to-have” projects until taxpayers can absorb the additional tax burden Ensure new discretionary capital projects are economically feasible without taxpayer subsidies Improve project management methods and cost controls to eliminate project cost over-runs Consult with residents on their vision of St. Albert before launching new initiatives Acknowledge and capitalize on St. Albert’s proximity to Edmonton and area attractions, and don't develop projects and programs that compete with them Require developers to pay up front infrastructure costs Accept that the taxpayers' pockets are empty!