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But given that overinvestment, why then this rush toward laying down rail lines? I get a sense that many who love LRT just love trains. Yet conceivably you could make a BRT system that would have all the capacity and right of way of LRT, yet would be more versatile. So what's the advantage of having metal rails? So instead of LRT, what about instead providing dedicated lanes on all streets for high occupancy vehicles and transit?
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Because, supposedly, there is more benefit to LRT even though it costs more.
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Funding for some major Stoney Creek projects announced (2013 - 2022):
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Hamilton hits surplus fifth year out of six
(Hamilton Mountain News, Kevin Werner, Mar 11 2013) For the fifth year out of six, the city of Hamilton has recorded its second-largest budget surplus. City financial staff told politicians last week they were projecting a total $11.4 surplus for the year, combining its tax and rate supported services. It is the second highest surplus the city has had since 2007. Last year the surplus reached $15 million, the highest over the last five years. In 2010, the surplus was $5.2 million, while in 2007 it was $5.4 million and $7.4 million in 2008. The city recorded a budget deficit of $3.3 million in 2009. The city saved about $8.5 million in capital financing, and another $5 million from the public works budget, mainly because of lower winter control, and waste processing costs. The city also had declining Ontario Works caseloads, delays in recreation openings, and savings from social housing subsidy payments, for a total of about $2.8 million. Another $1.7 million was saved by delaying the hiring of people for vacant positions. Some of the savings were offset by $12 million in tax write-offs the city was forced to do this year. It was also a poor year for business and trade license revenues, and there was a parking revenue shortfall. The 2012 surplus will be shifted to various department reserve funds, city finance staff said. The city has seen its reserve funds nearly depleted after councillors dipped into them one time too often, particularly from the Tax Stabilization Reserve or the Unallocated Capital Reserve. Before he departed for the city of Toronto, former corporate services general manager Robert Rossini told councillors last December that politicians’ decisions to use reserve funds to pay for tax-supported programs has hit financial bottom this year. Council had agreed to increase user fees this year in order to replenish the planning department fee stabilization reserve fund. Staff used the remaining $2.1 million to cover higher staff salary costs. “Using the reserves is not sustainable,” said Rossini. |
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Buses don't attract riders
Buses don't attract investment Buses don't attract new business Buses are more expensive to operate Buses are noxious and noisome |
Hamilton homeowners facing average $68 tax increase
CBC News Posted: Mar 21, 2013 11:47 AM ET http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/economy/s...-march-21.html The burden on Hamilton taxpayers has been lifted a little more with a new draft budget for the city. Staff have found savings that will reduce the budget increase to 1.9 per cent over last year, a $68 increase on the average household. The previous version of the budget called for a 2.5-per cent increase, or $75 more than last year for the owner of a $266,200 home. The change reflects, among other savings, a smaller than expected Ontario Works caseload and winter control budget. The year-end totals for 2012 are available now, and they weren't at the start of the budget process, city manager Chris Murray said. “Because of that, we've been able to look at the books more closely and come to you with these further savings.” Councillors deliberated the budget at a general issues committee meeting Thursday. A big item was the budget for Hamilton Entertainment and Convention Facilities Inc. (HECFI), which projects no savings for 2013. This worried some councillors. HECFI's properties will be managed by new parties this year — Copps Coliseum and Hamilton Place by Global Spectrum/Live Nation, the Hamilton Convention Centre by Carmen's Inc. Both promised savings in their bids. Both groups have said 2013 will be a transitional year. Councillors voted Jan. 31 to allow Carmen's to apply for $450,546 and Global Spectrum $110,000 to cover any losses this year. Mike Zegarac, interim head of finance, will come back to the general issues committee the first week of April to elaborate on why there would be no savings. “We asked the transition team if there were any potential savings,” Zegarac said. The team told him “there were no potential savings to incorporate in the 2013 budget.” But Coun. Brian McHattie wanted to press the groups for some cost reductions, especially in light of HECFI staff being laid off. “They have reduced staff to the detriment of those families,” he said. “It [the transition to private management] was done for the benefit of the taxpayer. If that's not the case, we need to seriously query what we've bought into.” Budget deliberations are scheduled to continue on April 4, with final approval on April 10. |
Police budget a ‘shell game’
(Hamilton Spectator, Andrew Dreschel, Mar 27 2013) To borrow a line from Jorge Borges, the sweat-it-out struggle over the police budget is starting to look like two bald men fighting over a comb. After all, city councillors on one side and Chief Glenn De Caire and the police service board on the other are only about $262,000 apart in terms of dollars. At least that’s how it looks on the surface. But, like an iceberg, it’s what lies beneath that counts. Let’s do this by the numbers and you’ll see what I mean. Back in February, by a vote of 5-2, the police board approved a 3.71 per cent increase for the 2013 police operating/capital budget. That represents an increase of $5 million over 2012 for a total budget of $140,675,370. Last week, in response, Councillors Bernie Morelli and Terry Whitehead — the two dissenting police board members — brought forward a motion for a committee of council’s consideration calling for an increase of 3.52 per cent. That represents an increase over 2012 of about $4.7 million for a total budget of $140,414,620. Councillors postponed their next move until they could confirm some information and ask police board members and De Caire some questions. But, as you can see, the difference between the two positions is only about $262,000. So what’s the big deal, given the total size of the budget? Why risk a potential showdown which could see the whole dispute end up at a panel hearing before the Ontario Civilian Police Commission? Here’s why: The police board-approved budget boils down to what Whitehead has quite rightly called a “shell game.” The 3.71 per cent increase is based on De Caire hiring 20 new officers for 2013 but carrying over the majority cost of the hires to the 2014 budget. Under the chief’s proposal, the new officers will add $511,750 to the 2013 budget but financial pressures of more than $1 million to the 2014 budget. In other words, next year taxpayers will pay the piper double what the tune cost this year. |
Jesus. Just scrap these stupid fake democratic police and school boards and make the executive decisions. They're happening anyway. These boards give a pallor of legitimacy to what is a totally crooked process.
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