CFIB report criticizes Calgary and other municipalities for over-spending

Another study suggests Canadian municipalities don’t have a revenue problem, but a spending problem.

Ahead of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Niagara Falls, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business has released what it calls a spending watch report.

The CFIB’s Laura Jones said cities large and small, including Calgary, are guilty of over-spending.

“So we’d like to see spending somewhere in the 30 per cent increase range, you’re (Calgary) more than double that at 65 per cent increase in spending,” she said. “However, over the past couple of years that we have data for, it looks like spending has come down a bit so I would say spending is way too high in Calgary, but you are probably the best of the bad lot.”

The CFIB estimates over-spending by municipalities has each household in the country has cost each household in the country more than $7,800 over the past 12 years and while municipal leaders say they only get eight cents of every tax dollar collected, their study puts that figure at 15 cents.

Jones said mayors and councillors need to learn to live within their mean, even if that means saying no and disappointing voters.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today