Trail council cuts $1M from budget, City of Rossland adopts five-year capital plan (imposes 2.5% tax increase in 2020)

In stark contrast - both articles from Trail Times online local news May 8, 2020. https://www.trailtimes.ca/local-news/

"In a time of fiscal restraint brought on by the COVID-19 virus, the City of Trail responded, slashing more than $1 million from this year’s budget.

The city reconsidered the original 2020 Budget and Five Year Financial Plan at a Governance and Operations Committee (GOC) meeting last month, where council approved an amended budget that cancelled capital projects totalling $1,007,450."

Meanwhile in Rossland - 

“City of Rossland council adopted their 2020-2024 capital plan during a meeting on May 4. Included in the plan is a 2.5 per cent tax increase for Rossland households in 2020."

"With no tax increase, the city would’ve forgone about $125,000 of tax revenue that we had earmarked for keeping our services going and projects that we want to go forward with,” said Moore.

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Commentary

Amid an unprecedented global pandemic, with widespread unemployment and severe economic impacts on the business community, Mayor Moore and Council adopt a multi year capital plan and 2.5% tax increase in 2020? Add insult to injury, the reason Mayor Moore gives is to fund "... projects we want to go forward with". When did 'because we want to' become an informed, sensitive and rational explanation to give people impacted by your decision? I'm insulted by that statement and it makes me very sad as it shows the degree of accountability decision makers at City Hall feel toward this community. 

Meanwhile, I would like to congratulate the City of Trail on their leadership in this challenging time.

If you live in Rossland this is undeniable proof where the needs of the community are relative to the needs of Mayor Moore and Council.