Good morning! Calgary Council will be debating adjustments to the budget today, and we will be live-tweeting all of the action!

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Lots of formalities taking place first, but the budget debate will be getting started shortly.

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Schedule for today:

1) Presentation from City Staff to "context set"
2) Public comments for most of the rest of the day

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City Staff's "context setting" is underway.

This is where the City talks about how vital all of the things they spend money on.

Hint: City staff think every program is vital.

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Admin. says when wages in Alberta fell, wages for city employees rose. Then evened out as Alberta wages started to rise again, where city wages remain stagnant.

They say it will even out in the future except for management wages. I guess we'll see.
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Admin. says Scenario 0% will result in large reductions to police - because why touch triple pensions, eliminate the corprate welfare slush fund, stop buying blue rings, or take a wage cut?

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Going to public submissions now.

But only after Nenshi pats himself on the back for *consulting* with Calgarians.

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Of course, the majority of Calgarians that wanted real tax or spending cuts have already been cut out of this conversation as none of the three scenarios allow for that.

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We're now on to questions from councillors.

Councillor Farkas is asking why attachment 4b is still being kept secret. He says he doesn't see why it should be.

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Councillor Colley-Urquhart asks a similar question about another document.

City Staff say the first document is about "risk" and the second is about staff salaries, hence secret.

Both councillors disagree with city staff.

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Mayor says that the document contains a message from "city partners" along the lines of...

"Based on what you do in your budget, we will do X."

Could this be unions threatening a strike if council don't do what they're told.

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Public submissions finally started.

The first speaker wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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The second speaker wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Re Beltline pool:

Public: Why we would think of knocking down a well-used facility?

Answer: Mostly because it's not well used.

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The third speaker wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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And Calgary Strong is up to speak.

Asks:

1) Low-income transit passes need to be funded by the city, not just the province.

2) No cuts to transit routes and hours, libraries, affordable housing, and other social services

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Good point on affordable housing costing less in the long run - except that's the province's job.

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In general, *some* common sense from Calgary Strong.

Perhaps its time to drain the corporate slush fund, end goldplated pensions, and get city salaries in line to pay for their wish list without making this City more expensive for the City's most vulnerable??

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Speaker five wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Time for questions and answers.

We're batting five for five public submissions from the tax and spend crowd.

This imbalance is hopefully just a result of the grouping system the city used, but that seems unlikely.

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Just a friendly reminder: according to the City's own data, a majority of Calgarians polled do not want more taxes and more spending.

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Speaker six wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Seventh speaker wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker eight wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Everyone that comes to Council wants to keep their concentrated benefits paid for by defusing costs onto every other Calgarian.

The problem isn't low-income transit, the problem is everyone is getting everything they ask for, and it's adding up too quickly.

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Speaker nine wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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This is fun, speaker 9 is city staff
He claimed:
- we have a revenue problem
- missed the doc. released a few weeks ago refuting the claim that #yyc has the lowest taxes
- and claimed the city was "taking brutal cuts" when the city will be spending more next year than this year

Speaker 10 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Now time for questions and answers.

@JeromyYYC corrects misinformation being spread about his support for spending increases and clarifies that wage cuts are needed to save City jobs.

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And we're off with group three.

Speaker eleven wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker twelve wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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"...the arts drive social cohesion..."

Yep, I cannot disagree with that. The City's residents are regularly united over their dislike of the City's taxpayer-funded art installations.

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Speaker thirteen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker fourteen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

AND wants a tax-shift!

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In summary: 'doing what I want, increasing and shifting the tax burden is the non-political decision, but not doing what I want means you're making the political decision'

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Speaker fifteen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Panel #4 begins

Speaker sixteen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Another speaker wants spending increased on their special interest claiming it will only cost the price of a coffee a month per Calgarian.

The problem is, if EVERYONE has spending increased on their special interest, that's the cost of a lot of coffees per month.

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In Summary:

This morning's public speakers are sofar all very anti-coffee.

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Speaker seventeen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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When you hear the city of Calgary is facing a revenue problem, what they mean is that your taxes are too low.

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'...we need land transfer tax, vehicle tax, higher income taxes, insurance tax, skip the dish tax, uber tax, Airbnb taxes...

But we don't need any understanding of the Laffer curve or deadweight loss... because then my numbers would look made up...'

... this is fun

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Speaker eighteen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker nineteen wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker twenty wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 21 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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We've seen multiple speakers this morning that are paid by the City to lobby the City in favour of *you guessed it* higher taxes and spending!

The system is broken.

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Breaking: "Council is already a streamlined financial machine"

This is news to us!

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Oh good, another City-commissioned group. We haven't heard from enough of those today.

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Speaker 22 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 23 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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This morning summarized:

- Lots of incorrect information coming from City insiders that should know better.
- Not a single speaker defending taxpayers.
- Plenty of moments that were both heartbreaking and infuriating. This City's priorities are a mess.

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Meeting paused for now. We will be back at 1:30pm!

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We're back, with yet another person wanting more government spending.

Reminder: The city's own polling, biased as it is, shows a majority of Calgarians want tax and spending cuts, not tax and spending increases.

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Speaker 24 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 25 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

But she also has ideas for cuts to pensions and complaints about an overpriced park repair!

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Speaker 26 from CFIB is concerned about small businesses, 'they cannot afford more taxes.'

Good speech, but one question:

Is CFIB suggesting a tax-shift from businesses to residents?

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Speaker 27...

No comment.

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Speaker 28 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

We're back on affordable housing, a great initiative that is not a municipal responsibility.

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Speaker 29 talks about inefficiencies! Could this be the light?
- Sees issues with plowing and sanding/how we deploy resources
- Pools need better business practices
- City employees don't work enough hours, aren't accessible to residents
-Issues with recycling costs
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Speaker 30 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 31, from a firefighters association, defending essential services.

Good. Council's priorities are a mess. Containing fires is an actual real public good.

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Speaker 32, business owner wants higher taxes for residents to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest which is subsidizing businesses.

Pitting residents against business owners while avoiding any real spending restraint is working!

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Speaker 33 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Druh Farrell asking about an important *provincial* responsibility - affordable housing.

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Speaker 34 ...

No comment.

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Speaker 35, concerned about residential tax increases!

She believes there are many other cuts that can be made, including the arena that gives money to millionaires.

Shes excluding essential services from the need to cut.

Our council is the highest paid in Canada
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She also doesn't like defined benefit pensions because they are ridiculous.

Did the silent majority just standup?

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Speaker 36 wants his residential taxes to go down!

Preach!

It's a shame that Administration hasn't been directed to research a scenario that would make this happen.

Your taxes are going up folks!

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Speaker 37 reminding everyone about the change in Provincial Government and its effect on funding.

Time for Council to wake up and get our priorities in order!

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And it was all too good to be true...

We're back to rent-seeking behaviour, speaker 38 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Councillor @JyotiGondek reminds a concerned citizen that the city will be performing the type of audit he called for in his public submission.

This is an important step in the right direction.

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Speaker 39 is experienced in the electricity sector. Concerned about the Enmax dividend staying flat while he was being asked to pay more taxes.
He believes that Edmonton gets a better deal from Epcor than #yyc gets from Enmax.

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And we're up! @peteremcc takes the mic for @CommonSenseYYC & @AB_Institute

He has come and warned the city every year since 2014 about reckless spending.
This game is rigged against citizens.

Cut the stadium, the greenline, council salaries...

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... cut pensions, and cut the 100 million in corporate welfare...

...the list goes on...

'Citizens want cuts, your own citizen satisfaction survey says so, and if you're not going to listen to that, then cut that too.'

Full video coming soon!

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Speaker 41 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

But is also concerned we're chasing away businesses...

#yyccc the only place in Calgary where you can have your lunch and eat it too!

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Speaker 42, municipal chair from a progressive business group, thanks Council for their hard work, but it's time for cuts.

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Coun. @JeromyYYC ask @peteremcc how the citizen satisfaction survey can be improved.

Peter notes that the survey is fundamentally flawed all about increasing taxes and spending.

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Councillor @seanchucalgary asks @peteremcc what about the unions that say we have a revenue problem, not a spending problem?

Rather than casting any dispersions on the IDed group's motivations, Peter says they aren't really looking at the numbers.

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Council claims there are cuts constantly when really there are just small decreases in planned spending increases.

There is a 600 million in savings # often cited - really that was a planned 600 million spending increase that's cut, but overall the budget is still increasing

Coun. @Joe_Magliocca asks @peteremcc about the 5% budget cut he proposed, plus the fear-mongering about how tax cuts would mean essential survice cuts.

Peter talks about monument syndrome - cuts the thing that is public and scares people to avoid a cut.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Monument_Syndrome

Coun. @ChahalGeorge asks @peteremcc whether the existing property tax system is the best we could have, or if a share of provincial income tax might be better.

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Peter says a Land Value Tax might work better than a property tax, and a share of income taxes might force council to cut spending in tough economic times, as council wouldn't be able to just hike taxes every year when incomes drop.

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And we're on to group #5

Speaker 43 (IDK what # we're on anymore) he wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 44
very sad story about the hurt from property tax increases, high business taxes, and bankruptcies it's causing.

This is the real face of reckless government policy.

'Shifting the burden will hurt the people that you are trying to protect.'

"This is not sustainable"

Speaker 45 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

'He doesn't care about whiney business or property owners'

... except all of these "extra municipal costs" get passed on, but let's ignore that

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Speaker 46 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 47 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 48.

No comment.

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Speaker 49, @franco_nomics with the Canadian Taxpayers say's Calgarians are ready for spending cuts after years of spending increases.

The evidence:
#yyc voted to end the Olympic bid mess and then voted for a government calling for fiscal restraint provincially.

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Franco with @taxpayerDOTcom comes ready with solutions: adjust wages, cut golden pensions, cut the corporate slush fund, cut the arena deal.

He is disappointed that #yyccc isn't even considering a scenario that would mean tax cut. Calgarians deserve to see those numbers.

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Speaker 50 wants a municipal tax on fuel similar to the existing provincial and federal fuel tax.

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You know what we should do? We should put a tax on our taxes!

That would bring in so much money.

More every year!

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Speaker 51 from Social Workers for Social Justices is up.

The best name so far (...other than mine...)

They want higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 52 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 52 identifies as a graceful mermaid here to defend the Beltline Pool.

A protected habitat application is now under review for the facility.

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Speaker 53, helped organize the business tax rally.

His tenants employ hundreds of Calgarians.

They are struggling with the consequences of this Council's decisions.

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Speaker 54 is really upset about distracted driving.

He wants the fines to go up. He wants a social media campaign.

He says "Social media will be your friend" - but for sure do not social media while driving.

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Councillor @peterdemong asks the question we were all thinking: will slower speed limits lead to more distracted driving?

Don't worry the very useful $200,000 report looking into slowing speed limits will surely provide us with the answer!

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And we're breaking for dinner. We will be back at 6:15pm!

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And we're back with Speaker 55!

He wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 56 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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At this point, if the number of people testifying before Council about the importance of the Beltline Pool actually used the beltline pool regularly that place would be popping.

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Speaker 57 came with ideas!

He wants to take the deficit, divide it by Ward, and make the Councillor for each Ward find the savings.

He also believes each election needs more direct democracy through a referendum.

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Speaker 58 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Next panel!

Speaker 59 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 60 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 61 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 62 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 63 from Winsport.

Oh good another government agency here to lobby the government for more government. It's been too long.

He wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Wait, the guy that told us a year ago that the Olympic legacy would dye without a 2026 Olympics bid from Calgary now says the spirit lives on but will dye without a budget increases in 2020.

I don't know guys, he's really credible, maybe we should do it?

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Next panel!

Speaker 65 is concerned about the city's financial sustainability. He thinks it is time to consider wage rollbacks for City employees and points out that their wages are in the upper quartile.

Asks Council to think of the children!

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Speaker 66, tells Council about what seems like an important non-profit.

They should meet with the Province - the level of government that is responsible for affordable housing projects.

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Speaker 67 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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I wish I had time to dig up the Inglewood/Beltline Aquatic Center user numbers because this might be the most successful GOTV/public submission campaign I've ever seen.

At this point, I think everyone that has ever used these facilities has to testify at City Hall.

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Speaker 68 wants higher taxes to pay for more government spending on their particular area of interest.

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Speaker 69, Chinatown BIA, another government-funded group being paid to lobby the government this time for a cap on Downtown tax increases.

Unfortunately, this would come at the expense of residents.

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Speaker 70, self-described Ontario transplant, concerned about garbage pick up.

Says finding the savings starts with Council.

Too bad all three scenarios Admin. has been asked to explore offer nothing but tax hikes.

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Speaker 71, participated in the business tax revolt, tells #yyccc about how he has watched people struggle to find jobs.
He talks about paying exorbitant tax increases.

He talks about lawyer fees fighting Council's silliness.

"We need to spot spending on extravagant projects."

Coun. @JeromyYYC kindly uses his question asking time to allow a concerned business owner to finish his comments.

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And with that, the meeting has been recessed until tomorrow morning.

We will be back live-tweeting at 9:30am!