Regular readers of this blog will recall a previous article I wrote in the form of an OPEN LETTER to Amherstburg Council politely suggesting constructive ways Town Hall could save some money during this current economic crisis, and pass those savings along to taxpayers in the form of a tax rate decrease. That OPEN LETTER was posted on March 25, 2020.
Almost a month later, the Mayor with Council's blessing has offered a public response. You can read that response by clicking http://rivertowntimes.com/ and scrolling to page 4.
As you might have guessed, the Mayor's response raises more questions than it answers. For example:
1. How can Town Hall claim they laid off 33 employees but simultaneously claim they are saving no money?
2. Why would Town Hall hire a full-time licencing manager to collect only $4,100 in licences?
3. Why can't Town Hall reduce spending when every single business, and probably every single taxpyer in Amherstburg, has found a way to reduce spending during the present economic crisis?
4. Why does the Mayor's response use hostile language (like "divide and conquer mentality") to a simple request to save money?
1. How can Town Hall claim they laid off 33 employees but simultaneously claim they are saving no money?
2. Why would Town Hall hire a full-time licencing manager to collect only $4,100 in licences?
3. Why can't Town Hall reduce spending when every single business, and probably every single taxpyer in Amherstburg, has found a way to reduce spending during the present economic crisis?
4. Why does the Mayor's response use hostile language (like "divide and conquer mentality") to a simple request to save money?
Maybe the Mayor will try to clarify some of that. In the meantime, I will make it all very simple by using a small example which will sum up the entire discussion.
The open letter requested Town Hall to reduce spending and return the savings to the taxpayers in the form of a tax rate reduction. In response, the Mayor could simply have written a free letter to the editor. But that's not what he did.
Instead, Town Hall actually purchased a 3/4-page ad in the River Town Times to publish the Mayor's comments. Here is the very brief reference in the River Town Times confirming that "DiCarlo's rebuttal letter came in the form of a paid advertisement..."
Instead, Town Hall actually purchased a 3/4-page ad in the River Town Times to publish the Mayor's comments. Here is the very brief reference in the River Town Times confirming that "DiCarlo's rebuttal letter came in the form of a paid advertisement..."
So in response to a letter requesting Town Hall to spend LESS money, Town Hall actually went out and spent MORE money.
And that, in very simple terms, pretty much sums up Town Hall's attitude towards the current economic crisis.
And that, in very simple terms, pretty much sums up Town Hall's attitude towards the current economic crisis.