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!