Accountable Municipal Government For the Benefit of All Taxpayers  NEXT MEETING Tuesday, May 28, 2013 7:30 pm St. Albert Community Hall All Welcome! 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.  © Eu fugiat irure aliqua, tempor eiusmod veniam, culpa laboris non commodo sed enim dolore nulla et aute 2010 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!  Copyright 2010.  All Rights Reserved. Recent News & Opinions   May 2013 • 13-05-01 Capital Partnership Program, Bylaw 15/2013: William Tuchak April 2013 • 2013-04-29. Capital Partnership Program. Norman Harley Address to Council • 2013-04-29. Starbucks - Norm Harley Address to Council • 2013-04-27: Very Serious 2012 St. Albert Transit Losses • 2013-04-03: On Proposed Additional $29-million Spending on Servus Place. • 2013-04-03 St. Albert : regional development authority.