In today’s world, it is paramount that a business which wants to prosper, must look at cutting costs. Some cut costs with layoffs, reduction in working hours, increased efficiency and other well known business practices. It seems in Halton, developers want to reduce costs by transferring costs to the local taxpayer – something the provincial and federal governments were good at. Taking a tip from this method of cost saving, Mattamy et al are trying to get Halton Region council to bow to their wishes and not put a reasonable and fair levy (not taxes as some say) on development charges. Halton Council is saying – if you want it, pay for it. Funny, but that is the kind of philosophy I’ve always had to live under, including my unfortunate buying of a Mattamy home.
Some argue that an increase will affect jobs in today’s recession. Using the taxpayer as a bailout for private industry, whose executives are millionaires and billionaires, is not good practice, considering that yes, you might create jobs but, the increased taxes will place a burden on those not able to pay any more taxes. The retired and laid-off to name a couple. Do the developers want to sacrifice their well being for their own profits and interests? Somebody has to pay – let those wanting a new house (homeowners and speculators) pay their own share like we did when we moved here. And let the retired enjoy their homes in peace.
Here are other thoughts put forward as letters to the editor of the local Oakville Beaver newspaper. I think they understand the problem quite well.
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I am writing to voice my concern that greenfield developers may wish to avoid the cost of new roads required for their development projects by having Halton taxpayers pay these costs, or have the building of the required roads postponed.
I strongly urge council to resist this by supporting the Halton staff report that would require the development industry pay for the costs of new roads, water and wastewater infrastructure in Halton Region.
I am the moderator of Oakville’s Citizen Round Table on Public Transit and spend considerable time discussing funding issues regarding our road infrastructure.
Further, I am a planner and member of Ontario’s Professional Planning Institute, with an Urban Design Specialty and Accessibility Design Certificate.
This background requires me to point out the weakness of the arguments put forward by some representatives of developers.
Firstly, developers are in business for profit. This simple truth requires the recognition that any action or avoidance of action that can enhance profit will become the strategy of these developers. The proposed off-loading of necessary road costs and the avoidance of infrastructure costs would simply be the achievement of such a strategy, through the bank accounts of Halton taxpayers.
Secondly, any development constructed where no services exist requires an expenditure to provide the required services. Logic dictates that the developers, who make profit from such projects, must be asked to pay their way.
Therefore, I strongly urge councillors to support the staff report that would require the development industry pay for the costs of new roads, water and wastewater infrastructure in Halton Region.
HARVEY ROTRAND, MODERATOR, OAKVILLE’S CITIZEN ROUND TABLE ON PUBLIC TRANSIT
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ie: Mattamy lobbies for lower development charges, Oakville Beaver, July 1.
If Peter Gilgan of Mattamy Homes thinks Halton Region’s costs to builders is too high, then they shouldn’t build here. I’m fine with that.
What I’m not fine with is politicians continually caving to the demands of builders and with the end result being under-serviced, poorly-planned communities that further tax existing resources like schools, water, recreation and transit.
The builder won’t care if the infrastructure is really there to support a community, they’ll simply make their profit and move on.
http://condron.us/index.php?i=6
condron.us
We agree, times have changed.
Since Council contemplated this increase in November 2008, the real impact of the recession and job losses have become apparent. We all know the world has changed since then and it’s incumbent on the Halton Council to use up-to-date information to see if this increase will make sense.
We’d prefer that Halton Regional Council vote against this increase on July 15. But at a minimum, the increase must be deferred until there can be meaningful consultation on this increase.
Mattamy Homes has been building homes in the Halton region for over 30 years and we have always understood the need to pay our fair share and will continue to do so.
As I wrote here yesterday, we’re asking taxpayers to help us STOP the tax. If we truly wanted taxpayers to pay the additional tax, we wouldn’t be taking such action. You have framed Council’s proposed tax as a fair and reasonable, but the truth is that imposing $8,000 on every new home regardless of its value, lower income and first-time buyers are unfairly penalized. The claim that an additional $8,000 tax on new homes is required to pay for new infrastructure is unreasonable. Plenty of municipalities have great roads and sewers and don’t have the highest new home taxes in North America.
Gary Gregoris
VP – Mattamy Homes
Comment by Gary Gregoris — July 9, 2009 @ 1:57 pm |
My goodness. Only an employee of a major corporation would have the gall to ask Halton taxpayers to subsidise their construction sites by building infrastructure with general taxes, to make it easier to sell their products.
Simply, home buyers must pay for what they buy, not me or my neighbours in Halton. We already pay high taxes. In these difficult economic time, we MUST make these corporations pay for the infrastructure needed by their construction sites.
Halton Regional politicians must know that great pressure will be brought down on you by these corporations. Please know that the real voters of Halton do not want higher taxes just to give higher profits to these corporations. Make them pay for the infrastructure they require!
Comment by harold hekuba — July 12, 2009 @ 6:29 pm |