City money is no different than other money. I am a firm believer that governments should spend money as if it were their own -and Stratford is no exception.

Why is this important? During my eight years as a member of Stratford City Council I have been vocal and consistent in advocating that council needs to set reasonable targets for rate increases and draw a hard line between needs and wants. I have also pushed for more diligence each year where the budget is concerned, and for every effort to be taken to keep tax increases at a minimum while maintaining existing services.

 

A city and the people in it can thrive or struggle because of finances. I opposed the recent 3.19% tax increase (as well as the prior 5.46%, 7.73%, and 6.97%), and I will continue to advocate for lower tax increases, because I believe we can do better.

 

See below for some of my comments on past budgets this term:

 

2026 Budget Deliberation Meetings

“No matter the proposed budget increase, council needs to always be pushing to hold the line between needs and wants. With the authority to impose property tax increases on the entire city, it is the responsibility of council to respect both those with the means to afford such an increase, and also those who cannot afford any increase at all. While $167 annually may not seem much to some, we have been reminded time and time again that for some any increase is too much.

 

I refuse to put further financial pressures on residents for any items that are not absolutely needed.”

 

2025 Budget Deliberation Meetings

“This budget is one that demands residents pay over $350 more in taxes.. Those on fixed income, low income, home owners, tenants, or anyone else who needs to review their own budgets and find efficiencies to somehow find an extra $350 to make ends meet should not be made to support a budget that has not made every effort to do the same. Year over year more families and people in our community are struggling, we can’t continue to acknowledge those struggling in our community while continuing to increase spending.

 

We know an increasing number of people are struggling in our community. As a city we know this, and as a council we know this -we just heard from a delegation today. So to impose a $350 increase shows either a disconnect or disregard.”

 

2024 Budget Deliberation Meetings

“In my opinion, the very recent change by this and previous council to not set a budget target is one contributing factor to the proposed 8% increase. If we direct staff to maintain service levels within 3% vs within 10 or 20%, there is an impact, and yet council set no limit, contributing to high recent increases.

 

Though a city budget is much more complex than a household budget, I believe that if you don’t have the money, most things can wait, and you shouldn’t be spending it. Some increase is unavoidable, but where a household is forced to make very difficult choices, [we heard this week from the United Way that many in Stratford are having to sacrifice food budget for home expenses] a household cannot rely on increasing the burden on taxpayers. With the city budget, the line between a want and a need is subjective because of the ability to make others pay for things that an increasing number of our residents simply cannot afford.”