Re: Cumulative expense overloading taxpayers (Letters, July 25)
I agree with writer James McMillan. I have seen my city utility bills increase by about 11 per cent annually since 2007, with no corresponding increase in water consumption, etc.
Similarly, my property taxes have been going up in the same period by four to eight per cent per year.
Starting in 2013, Victoria city council plans to effectively cut garbage collection in half, but charge about the same price. Given past experiences, one can reasonably presume that any large project undertaken by council will have large cost overruns, which taxpayers will be on the hook for – including sewage treatment, the new bridge, LRT, etc.
This mayor and council have no idea how to keep costs under control, and presume that an infinite amount of taxes can be raised. Eventually, property owners will give up and move somewhere more reasonable.
Roel Hurkens, Victoria