To: Mayor Aldo DiCarlo, and Council
Wed., Mar. 25 at 4:45 p.m.
Dear Council Members:
The health threat from the coronavirus is real. The brutal economic consequences are just as real.
FCA laid off 4,500 people. This is a HUGE blow to Essex County. One million Canadians, so far, have filed for unemployment.Small businesses have been ordered shut. They can’t pay their bills. People are defaulting on loans, on rent, and on mortgages.
Amherstburg Town Council must help alleviate the brutal economic consequences of this crisis. We need Town Hall to show some empathy for the taxpayers.
I am asking Amherstburg Town Council to cut all un-necessary expenses, and turn those savings into an immediate 5% drop in the property tax rate.What can be cut? Here are some useful examples.
Firstly, the tourism department: You can't have gatherings of more than 50 people and social distancing is not going to end soon. As a result, there will be virtually no tourism in 2020. Tourism expenditures should be eliminated for the rest of 2020. That could save $400,000 and result in a 2% tax rate reduction.
Secondly, the Libro Centre: It's closed anyway. Staff should be laid off. The refrigeration units can be shut down for utilities savings. All savings should be put towards tax relief.
Thirdly, licencing: Town Hall should waive all licencing fees for businesses and lay off licencing staff for further savings. The cost of staff probably exceeds the amount of licence fees collected anyway. All savings should be put towards tax relief.
Fourthly, avoid redeployment: There will be a temptation to "redeploy" staff instead of laying them off. Businesses in town have had to make the hard decision to lay off employees. Businesses who cannot afford to pay their own employees cannot afford to pay Town employees, either. If Amherstburg businesses must lay off workers then it's only fair that Town Hall must do the same.
People in this town are hurting. Town Hall needs to recognize this economic crisis. We are talking about our friends and neighbours. Amherstburg taxpayers need Town Hall on their side.
ANTHONY R. LEARDI
Wed., Mar. 25 at 4:45 p.m.
Dear Council Members:
The health threat from the coronavirus is real. The brutal economic consequences are just as real.
FCA laid off 4,500 people. This is a HUGE blow to Essex County. One million Canadians, so far, have filed for unemployment.Small businesses have been ordered shut. They can’t pay their bills. People are defaulting on loans, on rent, and on mortgages.
Amherstburg Town Council must help alleviate the brutal economic consequences of this crisis. We need Town Hall to show some empathy for the taxpayers.
I am asking Amherstburg Town Council to cut all un-necessary expenses, and turn those savings into an immediate 5% drop in the property tax rate.What can be cut? Here are some useful examples.
Firstly, the tourism department: You can't have gatherings of more than 50 people and social distancing is not going to end soon. As a result, there will be virtually no tourism in 2020. Tourism expenditures should be eliminated for the rest of 2020. That could save $400,000 and result in a 2% tax rate reduction.
Secondly, the Libro Centre: It's closed anyway. Staff should be laid off. The refrigeration units can be shut down for utilities savings. All savings should be put towards tax relief.
Thirdly, licencing: Town Hall should waive all licencing fees for businesses and lay off licencing staff for further savings. The cost of staff probably exceeds the amount of licence fees collected anyway. All savings should be put towards tax relief.
Fourthly, avoid redeployment: There will be a temptation to "redeploy" staff instead of laying them off. Businesses in town have had to make the hard decision to lay off employees. Businesses who cannot afford to pay their own employees cannot afford to pay Town employees, either. If Amherstburg businesses must lay off workers then it's only fair that Town Hall must do the same.
People in this town are hurting. Town Hall needs to recognize this economic crisis. We are talking about our friends and neighbours. Amherstburg taxpayers need Town Hall on their side.
ANTHONY R. LEARDI