4% Property Tax Hike

[oldjones]

…edit…Remember when Mike Harris tried to raise Toronto's taxes and he ended up losing his chance at a third term?…edit…
EU

No, I don't. Please refresh my memory, like maybe with evidence. For many of us the Bomber lost his chance at a third term way before he finished his first.

And how would a guy who couldn't elect members from Toronto have any business raising Toronto taxes anyway? Not that he had any belief in democracy, but he wasn't entirely stupid. Just ideologically straitjacketted and purblind.

 

[buckwheat1]

Well I'm happy where I work!!!

 

[enduser1]

No, I don't. Please refresh my memory, like maybe with evidence. For many of us the Bomber lost his chance at a third term way before he finished his first.

And how would a guy who couldn't elect members from Toronto have any business raising Toronto taxes anyway? Not that he had any belief in democracy, but he wasn't entirely stupid. Just ideologically straitjacketed and purblind.

It was part of his "Tax Cuts" and "Downloading". Basically he claimed he was going to shift business taxes. In downtown Toronto business started putting up signs showing what the new taxes would be if his "Tax Cuts" were implemented.

The disingenuous falsity of the man was not even exceeded by George Bush, and that's saying something. In fact Brian Mulrooney, was a saint compared to him. People in Toronto understood that "Downloading and Tax Cuts" where the opposite. Tax increases and bloated government.

EU

 

[Rockslinger]

If all these jobs are so great paying get in line and sign up for one.

I had an "across the fence" heart to heart talk with one of my neighbours (who is a City employee) a couple of years ago. He has no advanced education and makes $30 an hour plus benefits (vacation, pension, insurance, etc.).
1) He works for the City. His children works for the City and his grandchildren will work for the City. Nepotism at its best (or worst).
2) He basically admitted that he won the lottery when he got hired by the City through a relative's referral.

Query: How many City employees actually leave their jobs? What is the turnover rate? My guess is real real low.

 

[Mencken]

Smaller centres that have contracted garbage services have, in my opinion, better service at a much lower rate than similar sized municipal services. But working for these garbage companies is a garbage job - not a career position.

I believe in unions to a point...but I think that is it time for a breather. Most protection for unions should be legislated as illegal...and unions should have to compete for members soley based on what they offer. They do offer some benefits...and therefore should be able to attract members. The only protection should be from reprisals for union organizing...that needs to be protected to keep a balance. But all of this union blackmailing needs to be gone.

Just heard the autoworkers guy on TV demanding a "buy Canadian" policy. Just what we, an exporting nation...need. Something to get every country in the world putting up tariffs and trade barriers against our products because some stupid ignorant asshole union leader ...who can't see past the end of his prick...thinks might help some of his members. Screw the rest of the country...but help his members.

 

[Rockslinger]

Just heard the autoworkers guy on TV demanding a "buy Canadian" policy.

This is code for our unionized workers can't compete so Mr. and Mrs. Consumer please overpay so we can continue to make $85 an hour. Heard the same thing briefly when somebody said NHL hockey players should be limited to only Canadian born and raised boys and girls.

 

[buckwheat1]

I bet many city workers don't leave there jobs and not many leave where I work either but it does happen wher epeople leave. A good employeer who
creates high moral realizes he has a dedicated employee who will work and be productive for years. A happy employee always a happy employee. AS for the NHL there all unionized workers, maybe we should all stop watching them
oh ya CBS/TSN/sportsnet their unionized too. If WE all stop watching sports the channels will disappear.

 

[Rockslinger]

A happy employee always a happy employee.

A happy employee can also mean an overpaid, underworked, complacent employee. Look at all the Toronto Maple Leafs with no trade contracts, they were happy to stay and didn't want to leave. The Leafs is one of the worst team in the league (albeit maybe the happiest).

 

[oldjones]

And the biggest single line item in the TO Budget, is [wait for it], and wages are the biggest single item under that. So let's stop the nickel and dime whining about garbage collection—a service we all need, use daily no matter what the collection schedule and which few of us would work at—and if you think cutting unions and their wages and benefits is the answer, speak up the first of you proposing to cut Police paycheques or benefit packages.

Yup that's where it would really show on your tax bill, not cutting the garbageguys' takehome. And don't forget their union's biggest argument for their last raise; "We gotta make the most of any police in Canada. Because."

You really think Peel Region guys are less capabale, or that Vancouver's got more crime because they had to settle for seconds?

You who really think busting unions will cut your tax bill, bust that one.

Or even better, learn that the jerking of the knee is not a signal from the thinking part of the brain.

 

[buckwheat1]

Players love to play here. The management owners also made 28% return on their money last year they highest in the league and they even make the playoffs. Qustion? How much did a player give up in cash to get a NO trade clause in his contract? some players went on (trade) and are even making more now then the leafs paid them last year. The barn is full and the investment income is coming in I say smart management.

 

[buckwheat1]

I prefer OHL hockey!!! GO BULLS GO!!!! season ticket holder

 

[oldjones]

A happy employee can also mean an overpaid, underworked, complacent employee. Look at all the Toronto Maple Leafs with no trade contracts, they were happy to stay and didn`t want to leave. The Leafs is one of the worst team in the league (albeit maybe the happiest).

Now substitute `manager` for `employee`. Just as true, but the potential to do harm is far greater.

Couldn`t say about the Leafs, but I never saw a manager score a goal, and there are more of them at MLSE than there ever were when Conn Smythe `managed` the team. Is the team better?

But as to taxes…

 

[buckwheat1]

well I got my tax bill at noon going up 1.2% over last year thanks to rural Ontario for doing a good job.

 

[buckwheat1]

bill is do March 30th, then June 30th , then sept 30th

 

[train]

That's what we all—well, most of us—said at the time. But, as was his wont, Harris refused to listen to wiser heads and the Leaches prevailed.

Governments only grow; it's a law of nature. But if you keep them localized, they have to listen more.

No one had the foresight to predict Torontonians electing Miller

 

[train]

And the biggest single line item in the TO Budget, is [wait for it], and wages are the biggest single item under that. So let's stop the nickel and dime whining about garbage collection—a service we all need, use daily no matter what the collection schedule and which few of us would work at—and if you think cutting unions and their wages and benefits is the answer, speak up the first of you proposing to cut Police paycheques or benefit packages.

Yup that's where it would really show on your tax bill, not cutting the garbageguys' takehome. And don't forget their union's biggest argument for their last raise; "We gotta make the most of any police in Canada. Because."

You really think Peel Region guys are less capabale, or that Vancouver's got more crime because they had to settle for seconds?

You who really think busting unions will cut your tax bill, bust that one.

Or even better, learn that the jerking of the knee is not a signal from the thinking part of the brain.

I have to laugh at the people that think the only unions are the Police and Firemen. The obviously haven't seen the 10 man road crew complete with backhoe sweating over a 12 inch pothole.

The waste at City Hall because it's controlled by the unions is legendary. So yes it's an excellent place to start. I think the citizens wouldn't feel so angry if they thought they were getting value for their money.

 

[buckwheat1]

Miller!!! lets be honest here who was there he ran against John Tory and won
he then ran against a lady who had No platform she just went against everything he siad to take the opposite side and he won. One only has to look back at Lastman when he froze taxes for a few years it will catch up with usu

 

[tboy]

Hey OJ, review my posts, I continue to harp on Miller for crying poor while giving himself (and I bet his staff) a 15% wage increase.

Whoever let the employees be in charge of their salaries (and I bet, benefits) ought to be flogged.

A VP I worked for told me an anecdote from when he worked for the city as a supervisor. He was late getting to a site one morning and the crew called him and said: we have to dig this hole but we forgot the shovels, could you bring them with you?

My boss said: Sure, just lean on each other until I get there....(and I believe him, he's even more sarcastic than I am lol).....

 

[SilentLeviathan]

Toronto residential property taxes are still low compared to the rest of the GTA. It's our business taxes that are a lot higher.

 

[Rockslinger]

They obviously haven't seen the 10 man road crew complete with backhoe sweating over a 12 inch pothole.

In Montreal, City Hall actually had undercovers following road crews and discovered that they spent 1/2 their time in nice warm doughnut shops reading newspapers, talking on cellphones, etc. Probably true here in Toronto as well. Mayor Miller will never send undercovers to track his road crews because this would be a gross violation (in his mind) of their human rights to spend time in doughnut shops.