Editor:
The Outlook's reporting on the Town of Canmore's preparation for it's 2022 budget, and the instructions to town administrators to keep budget increases to no more than 5 per cent should alarm every taxpayer in this community.Why isn't the goal to keep spending increases to zero, or even reduce the tax burden? Someone should introduce these people to the concept of zero based budgeting as a tool to reign in spending. It is inconceivable with an annual inflation rate in Canada hovering around 2.5 per cent, these politicians feel that budget increases of twice that are somehow acceptable. This comes on top of a 4.5 per cent tax increase for the current year.
I don't know of many people receiving annual salary increases of 5 per cent to keep pace with these proposed taxes.
With an upcoming municipal election in the fall, Canmore taxpayers should be educating themselves on where candidates stand on critical issues, such as the tax burden being created in this town.
Tom Kiley,
Canmore
