West Vancouver Community Discussion Forums: Draft Budget

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Bernard
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Newbie

Joined: 01 Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 7

Topic: Draft Budget
Posted: 02 Mar 2009 at 5:09pm

West Vancouver Staff have prepared a budget document that is full of bureaucratic fluff and generalities. They have not understood the message from other years that the contiinuing increase in taxes on a base that is already excessive is unacceptable. In addition, we are in recession and may be approaching depression. Most of our incomes are going down!

A quick review identifies some initiial areas for significant reductions:
- Financial Services.

We are doing much of the work and modern systems handle most of the traditional tasks. Productivity should be reducing these costs instead of increasing them.

-Administration

You're kidding! Right?

- Police Services

There seems to lots of room here. With an opportunity to install a new chief to look after basics, with no grandstanding, we should be able to handle this elderly community at less cost.

- Library

With less service, a deteriorating collection, user charges and the installation of self-serve equipment, the cost of library services should be going down.

Parks and Recreation

The reduction here should be much more with departure of Mr.Pike.

Please, please. lets get our costs in line with the size of the community. We should be actually doing something about sustainability and accountability.

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petergarr
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Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15

Posted: 03 Mar 2009 at 1:54pm

A first glance gives rise to the conclusion "same old, same old".

Staffing levels will go up slightly. Divisional expenditures are set to rise by 4% and West Van will continue to be the leader amongst Metro Vancouver municipalities in operating expenditures per capita. The second and third sentences of the almost new CAO's message (page 1) - "The economy has changed and we are taking action to reign in spending" and "Prudent fiscal management is not new to West Vancouver' - surely were written tongue in cheek. Is there a reason why a new position, a deputy CAO, was recently established?

The Engineering (ie Public Works) expenditure budget shows a decrease yet the Library budget continues to show a sizeable increase. Please could Mr. Laing provide a comparison of these two departments at other Metro Vancouver municipalities.

More maybe to come

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petergarr
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Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15

Posted: 07 Mar 2009 at 5:00pm

In these days of touted austerity and efficiencies, let me offer with reasoning, three examples where huge cuts could be made from the capital budget.

1. Slash the Gordon Ave area Improvements (Pages 104, 106) by $400k to $100k. There is no safety issue there and there is no need to pretty it up any more.

2. Disallow the $55K Saw Mill Equipment replacement request (page 114). Have them make do with what they have and ask the question: 'should West Van be in the sawmilling business?'

3. Ignore the library's request for $685k for a new programming/meeting room (page 104, 108). It would be non revenue producing, be not a library function and on the occasions that it is wanted make them use a room in the new Civic Centre.

I have saved taxpayers lots already with this advice.

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petergarr
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Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15

Posted: 10 Mar 2009 at 4:30pm

Here are four more suggestions to reduce capital spending:

4. Eliminate the $30,000 related to "Office furniture & moving related to corporate re-org"(page 116) It's the principle that is important. Does this relate to the brand new deputy CAO's office or what?

5. Reduce by $150,000 the "balance unallocated" under Technology Plan in Computers/Communications (page 113). It reeks of a slush fund and in any case the total for that area is out of line with presumed efficiencies emanating from technology developmet.

6. Eliminate the $55,000 from "Recreation Facility Capital" (page 117). This may be related a breezeway connection between the rec and seniors centres, a very short distance indeed. The seniors never wanted it, but a couple of stubborn councillors did. Suggestion - ask the seniors if they would prefer the money, if available, to go towards resurection of the pottery studio. That would be socially more consciable.

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petergarr
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Newbie

Joined: 06 Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 15

Posted: 26 Mar 2009 at 6:04pm

Here is my high level analysis of the proposed budget.

The underlying theme is to maintain the status quo by not reducing operating expenditures and depleting reserves through buying lots of frivilous capitlal thingies.

The Fiscal Sustainability Task Force recommendations, developed under the previous council, will be trashed except fot those of user pay goodies and costly procedures to obtain plaques for the District's documentation acumen.

Instead, a vision called A New Strategic Plan will be pursued. Participation in this plan's development will be limited to the insider elite.

The budgetting status quo will be maintained until this visionary plan is completed, likely just before the next municipal election. The cycle will then repeat itself.

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truth
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Posts: 12

Posted: 09 Apr 2009 at 2:21am

As usual, not enough to maintain the rights of West Vancouverites. Too many staff. Today there were two municipal work crews working on Marine Drive, one in Dundarave and the other in Ambleside. The Dundarave crew consisted of five guys standing around while one worked. The Ambleside crew consisted of three guys standing around, joking and laughing, while one guy worked. Current mayor and council do not know or understand the definition of "to budget". Ever since they decided to take out a loan on the new community centre, they've been spending like crazy with West Vancouverites seeing little protection for their taxes. I'd like to see more bylaws and ordinances to protect local property owners from, basically, other local property owners. It's a colder world with fewer people displaying a social conscience. People are meaner than they were and we need protection from them. Santa Barbara in California has a View Ordinance which protects the views of property owners. That doesn't mean cutting down trees left, right and centre. It means protecting the views that existed there. Then there is the battle for fresh air. Wood smoke is harmful and more people are talking about this. But West Vancouver's lawmakers don't care about citizens' health or their property values in relation to mean neighbours blocking their views with yet more newly planted evergreens. There is a general state of apathy or anarchy by citizens and neglect by local government.

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truth
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 30 Nov 2008
Posts: 12

Posted: 10 Apr 2009 at 1:04am

I agree with Bernard.

Also...

This mayor is fond of spending as many of our tax dollars as she can. I wouldn't trust her with a credit card.

Our taxes don't need to go up. Our mayor needs to stop spending!

She is the first mayor in the history of West Vancouver to take a mortgage out on a capital expenditure so great is her appetite for acquisitions and spending our money. She is fiscally irresponsible. She's irresponsible period.

We don't have a police chief, do we? If we don't, that's a good $100,000 or so that isn't needed.

How about all those municipal road workers who stand around doing nothing while one of them works? Our tax dollars going down the drain, as usual.

I don't see any improvement in my life in West Vancouver. Just more buildings for the illustrious staff of West Vancouver to enjoy working in.

It's all about West Vancouver's employees, don't you all know? We're working for them, not the other way around.

They're laughing all the way to the bank while our letters to mayor and council go entirely ignored.

Has anyone ever received a reply from mayor and council? I don't know of anyone who has. So where is the accountability?

This mayor is the first mayor to do away with replies to letters to mayor and council. For all we know, our letters end up in the trash without ever having been read.

All we can do is make complaints to the BC Ombudsman about the lack of West Vancouver mayor and council's accountability and their refusal to address our concerns. It is entirely illegal of them not to respond to us.

They are hired to perform services to us and they are not doing what they have been hired to do.

They have been hired to listen to us and address our concerns. They are not doing this.

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Budget 2009 ( Forum Locked)
West Vancouver Community Discussion Forums :Community Forums :Budget 2009

Author	Message
Bernard Newbie Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 7	Topic: Draft Budget Posted: 02 Mar 2009 at 5:09pm
	West Vancouver Staff have prepared a budget document that is full of bureaucratic fluff and generalities. They have not understood the message from other years that the contiinuing increase in taxes on a base that is already excessive is unacceptable. In addition, we are in recession and may be approaching depression. Most of our incomes are going down! A quick review identifies some initiial areas for significant reductions: - Financial Services. We are doing much of the work and modern systems handle most of the traditional tasks. Productivity should be reducing these costs instead of increasing them. -Administration You're kidding! Right? - Police Services There seems to lots of room here. With an opportunity to install a new chief to look after basics, with no grandstanding, we should be able to handle this elderly community at less cost. - Library With less service, a deteriorating collection, user charges and the installation of self-serve equipment, the cost of library services should be going down. Parks and Recreation The reduction here should be much more with departure of Mr.Pike. Please, please. lets get our costs in line with the size of the community. We should be actually doing something about sustainability and accountability.
	IP Logged

petergarr Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 15	Posted: 03 Mar 2009 at 1:54pm
	A first glance gives rise to the conclusion "same old, same old". Staffing levels will go up slightly. Divisional expenditures are set to rise by 4% and West Van will continue to be the leader amongst Metro Vancouver municipalities in operating expenditures per capita. The second and third sentences of the almost new CAO's message (page 1) - "The economy has changed and we are taking action to reign in spending" and "Prudent fiscal management is not new to West Vancouver' - surely were written tongue in cheek. Is there a reason why a new position, a deputy CAO, was recently established? The Engineering (ie Public Works) expenditure budget shows a decrease yet the Library budget continues to show a sizeable increase. Please could Mr. Laing provide a comparison of these two departments at other Metro Vancouver municipalities. More maybe to come
	IP Logged

petergarr Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 15	Posted: 07 Mar 2009 at 5:00pm
	In these days of touted austerity and efficiencies, let me offer with reasoning, three examples where huge cuts could be made from the capital budget. 1. Slash the Gordon Ave area Improvements (Pages 104, 106) by $400k to $100k. There is no safety issue there and there is no need to pretty it up any more. 2. Disallow the $55K Saw Mill Equipment replacement request (page 114). Have them make do with what they have and ask the question: 'should West Van be in the sawmilling business?' 3. Ignore the library's request for $685k for a new programming/meeting room (page 104, 108). It would be non revenue producing, be not a library function and on the occasions that it is wanted make them use a room in the new Civic Centre. I have saved taxpayers lots already with this advice.
	IP Logged

petergarr Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 15	Posted: 10 Mar 2009 at 4:30pm
	Here are four more suggestions to reduce capital spending: 4. Eliminate the $30,000 related to "Office furniture & moving related to corporate re-org"(page 116) It's the principle that is important. Does this relate to the brand new deputy CAO's office or what? 5. Reduce by $150,000 the "balance unallocated" under Technology Plan in Computers/Communications (page 113). It reeks of a slush fund and in any case the total for that area is out of line with presumed efficiencies emanating from technology developmet. 6. Eliminate the $55,000 from "Recreation Facility Capital" (page 117). This may be related a breezeway connection between the rec and seniors centres, a very short distance indeed. The seniors never wanted it, but a couple of stubborn councillors did. Suggestion - ask the seniors if they would prefer the money, if available, to go towards resurection of the pottery studio. That would be socially more consciable.
	IP Logged

petergarr Newbie Joined: 06 Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 15	Posted: 26 Mar 2009 at 6:04pm
	Here is my high level analysis of the proposed budget. The underlying theme is to maintain the status quo by not reducing operating expenditures and depleting reserves through buying lots of frivilous capitlal thingies. The Fiscal Sustainability Task Force recommendations, developed under the previous council, will be trashed except fot those of user pay goodies and costly procedures to obtain plaques for the District's documentation acumen. Instead, a vision called A New Strategic Plan will be pursued. Participation in this plan's development will be limited to the insider elite. The budgetting status quo will be maintained until this visionary plan is completed, likely just before the next municipal election. The cycle will then repeat itself.
	IP Logged

truth Newbie Joined: 30 Nov 2008 Posts: 12	Posted: 09 Apr 2009 at 2:21am
	As usual, not enough to maintain the rights of West Vancouverites. Too many staff. Today there were two municipal work crews working on Marine Drive, one in Dundarave and the other in Ambleside. The Dundarave crew consisted of five guys standing around while one worked. The Ambleside crew consisted of three guys standing around, joking and laughing, while one guy worked. Current mayor and council do not know or understand the definition of "to budget". Ever since they decided to take out a loan on the new community centre, they've been spending like crazy with West Vancouverites seeing little protection for their taxes. I'd like to see more bylaws and ordinances to protect local property owners from, basically, other local property owners. It's a colder world with fewer people displaying a social conscience. People are meaner than they were and we need protection from them. Santa Barbara in California has a View Ordinance which protects the views of property owners. That doesn't mean cutting down trees left, right and centre. It means protecting the views that existed there. Then there is the battle for fresh air. Wood smoke is harmful and more people are talking about this. But West Vancouver's lawmakers don't care about citizens' health or their property values in relation to mean neighbours blocking their views with yet more newly planted evergreens. There is a general state of apathy or anarchy by citizens and neglect by local government.
	IP Logged

truth Newbie Joined: 30 Nov 2008 Posts: 12	Posted: 10 Apr 2009 at 1:04am
	I agree with Bernard. Also... This mayor is fond of spending as many of our tax dollars as she can. I wouldn't trust her with a credit card. Our taxes don't need to go up. Our mayor needs to stop spending! She is the first mayor in the history of West Vancouver to take a mortgage out on a capital expenditure so great is her appetite for acquisitions and spending our money. She is fiscally irresponsible. She's irresponsible period. We don't have a police chief, do we? If we don't, that's a good $100,000 or so that isn't needed. How about all those municipal road workers who stand around doing nothing while one of them works? Our tax dollars going down the drain, as usual. I don't see any improvement in my life in West Vancouver. Just more buildings for the illustrious staff of West Vancouver to enjoy working in. It's all about West Vancouver's employees, don't you all know? We're working for them, not the other way around. They're laughing all the way to the bank while our letters to mayor and council go entirely ignored. Has anyone ever received a reply from mayor and council? I don't know of anyone who has. So where is the accountability? This mayor is the first mayor to do away with replies to letters to mayor and council. For all we know, our letters end up in the trash without ever having been read. All we can do is make complaints to the BC Ombudsman about the lack of West Vancouver mayor and council's accountability and their refusal to address our concerns. It is entirely illegal of them not to respond to us. They are hired to perform services to us and they are not doing what they have been hired to do. They have been hired to listen to us and address our concerns. They are not doing this.
	IP Logged