Photo by Whitehorse Star
Mayor Dan Curtis
New Yukon budget disappoints mayor
Mayor Dan Curtis is expressing his disappointment with the 2016-17 territorial budget unveiled last Thursday.
Mayor Dan Curtis is expressing his disappointment with the 2016-17 territorial budget unveiled last Thursday.
The Yukon government is proposing to spend $1.09 billion on operations, with a further $306.6 million on capital projects this fiscal year.
In an interview this morning, Curtis argued the budget seemed to largely leave out municipalities.
There are no changes outlined for the comprehensive municipal grant, and the majority of funding for waste is going to diversion credits, he said.
As well, Curtis said, there is little recognition of the cost of municipal services used by Yukoners who live just outside city boundaries.
As the mayor of the territory’s capital city, Curtis was quick to point out that the city continues to grow, and regulations for a number of services are increasing. However, there has been little change to the funding the city receives from the territory.
That means a continued strain on city taxpayers to fund infrastructure and services in the city.
In the case of the Canada Games Centre, which is used by many Yukoners who live outside of city limits as well as city residents, the mayor said, it’s city taxpayers who end up subsidizing all users who come to the facility.
At an annual cost of $3 million to operate it, taxpayers essentially put about 10 per cent of their taxes toward the facility, Curtis said.
Curtis was asked how much he would like to see the territory put toward the Games Centre.
He replied by pointing out he wasn’t looking for any sort of set amount, but rather using the situation as an example to show the funding formula between the territory and city needs to be changed.
“We’re really, really hurting as a community,” he said. Whitehorse has the largest population by far of any municipality in the territory, Curtis pointed out.
And the largest population after that is in the areas just outside of the city, he noted.
The mayor also took issue with the territory’s decision to put approximately $900,000 for waste into diversion credits (funding to recycling processors for materials shipped out of the territory, recognizing it is diverted from local landfills).
Curtis argued that could have a significant negative impact on the city’s resources, given the agreement for the city and territory to each chip in on diversion credits. The city’s budget identified up to $150,000 for the credits.
Curtis said he would like to see more effort go into an overall plan to deal with waste in the territory.
He would also like to see the territory recognize municipal priorities in administering federal funds like Building Canada and federal gas tax funding.
The mayor plans to bring forward his concerns at the next meeting the city has with Community Services Minister Currie Dixon.
Curtis noted that while there are issues with the budget for municipalities he will bring forward, there were also some “successes” in the spending plan that he will also provide input on.
Those include the funding for four new RCMP officers and one civilian for the Whitehorse detachment (see last Friday’s Star) as well as housing initiatives through the Yukon Housing Corp.
See letter.
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Comments (29)
Up 0 Down 3
yukon56 on Apr 17, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Get rid of the busing, give all a cab voucher save millions.
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Mary Lake and all the Yukon experts here's my history tell me yours on Apr 17, 2016 at 8:48 am
Grew up in family that were involved with insure fishing, sold fishing gear, build boats, had saw mills, grocery, hard ware, sports, hunting equipment, feed, snow machines, out board motors, GM car dealership, oil supply both light and heavy oil supply, just to name some. Do you think working in family business you don't learn anything?
Work experience:
Nova Scotia Housing commission on housing.
Imperial head office Edmonton engineering department Edmonton
Oxford Development Group Edmonton developing shopping centers, office towers, hotels etc across Canada and into the US
New West Development, land development, housing, commercial buildings across Canada and the US
Greater homes Iranian owner company on land, housing commercial buildings
Saudi Development company on import/export developments from wheat to grocery stores in Saudi and the Middle East
Yukon based jobs Northwestel as Manager of Revenue Requirements
CAO Village of Teslin
Director of Municipal Service, Properties and Housing for Champagne Aiskikih First Nations
Was involved with Infrastructure programs, in buildings, roads, public sector building, water and sewage plants, land planting and land use planning.
Worked with land claims, 100's of different types of public and private sector projects.
Executive Director for Economic Development agency
Worked on Sable Island Pipeline project from economic development point of view.
Was senior business development adviser for YG.
Which gave me the opportunity to work on a lot of the Yukon economic engines like mining, tourism, infrastructure,
So does any one think I do not have a broad base of experience?
Have any of you experts out there ever developed a hotel or managed a municipality or worked for and lived in a First Nations community?
Do you think working with all these great opportunities that I have not had the opportunity learn something?
A lot of locals have wanted me to put this out there for a long time.
I am doer not a expert on anything.
By the way I have seven years of post secondary education.
Great job Mary Lake and thanks
Wilf CArter
Up 34 Down 8
mary laker on Apr 15, 2016 at 6:58 pm
Too funny! Now resident expert on everything, and YP hack Wilf Carter is talking about himself in the third person.
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threetimesacharm...mandeep on Apr 15, 2016 at 12:09 am
No, there is a tender process:
Norcope, Castle Rock, the city itself, Pelly, Golden Hill, some guy with a trencher.. etc
But you seem to miss the point.
Have you driven through that traffic circle? It's cambered the wrong way!
Each winter there are a couple of sets of headlights the city has had to move in barriers to stop cars from sliding into the sidewalk and possibly hitting pedestrians.
There is a huge liability sitting there. It's a simple fix. If you want with proper licensing we could set up rigging and shovels and pick axes and make a tunnel through the road and say we are going back to the days of the Klondike!
WITH ICE CREAM!
if you're too scared to use your real name... then keep your comments to yourself.
If you can only address one point, maybe you should intake the entire scope of what I'm saying.
It's pretty transparent, your name isn't, you've entered terrible irony or hypocritical notions. I'll use big words.
Up 16 Down 57
Josey Whales on Apr 14, 2016 at 1:45 pm
I agree with the mayor on this one, he is doing an excellent job.
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Title should read - New mayor disappoints on Apr 14, 2016 at 1:35 pm
that would cover the entire story in a nutshell
Up 78 Down 146
DarlesChickens on Apr 14, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Wee little Danny Boy is beginning to sound more and more like Oliver Twist, holding out his bowl to Mr Bumble for more. More? To quote John McEnroe, you cannot be serious!
Up 108 Down 198
ThreeTimesACharm on Apr 14, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Mandeep - nice pitch for Dad's trucking company ( an underpass below Elijah Smith Elementary ? ) but too transparent I am afraid. Some interesting points otherwise, but I really doubt Dapper Dan is going to act on your suggestions. You need to oust him at the next election. 3rd time lucky eh?
Up 27 Down 47
YukonMax on Apr 14, 2016 at 10:18 am
Some municipalities of 400 and less should consider contracting out their Public Works departments. Specially for those who have a unionized shop.
Up 38 Down 2
Smurf on Apr 14, 2016 at 9:50 am
Look at our streets: Our city officials should recognize that because of the thawing and freezing almost all winter long (and that will be always like that from now on, I guess) our potholes getting more and bigger, the rubber fill for the cracks comes loose everywhere and lots of paved/chip sealed areas are crumbling big time. Drive around Hillcrest - it's a shame!
What does this mean: Either have a mandatory 4x4 to drive around the city or they have to spend way more money for street maintenance in the future!
And where does it come from?
My suggestion is: Better get a 4x4 because spending big money (which we don't even have) on unnecessary projects and departments is more important than focusing on obvious things...
Up 49 Down 5
Mandeep Sidhu on Apr 13, 2016 at 1:09 pm
If Mayor and council are concerned about funding there are ways to save.
Please review and renegotiate with the Union. The following items are troublesome:
Section 20.07.
20.08
20.05
When you do the math of providing the majority of their kit, a very good wage, fifty percent off on city facilities, and they use our resources (vehicles) for all their daily errands. There are a ton of savings to be had.
Having diesel vehicles idling outside of Mcdonalds for an hour during the winter (all the trucks/loaders/graders/ etc.) Costs us money. Why not a crew van?
Taking a grader down 4th ave with it's blade down and scraping the road so that sparks are being thrown is a huge expenditure in back fill/paving... (You wonder why are roads are getting chewed up)? Maybe you shouldn't use a grader on a paved road when there is no snow.
There should have been some saving this year with the decrease in fuel costs. Your budget doesn't show it. An external audit and review (much like the one done to Theresa Spence) of City Finances and spending would be appreciated. Also a rubric for staff placement, or grid, that clearly outlines the wage of each person and the number of years they've worked. I'm sure you could find a few ways to save money there.
I think the City could also save itself some money by avoiding potential future conflicts that may result in lawsuits. For example Kirsten Mcdonald the Chief Coroner has made it clear that there should be overhead lights installed at the cross walk by Mcdonalds/Tags (just witnessed an accident yesterday where a nissan hit a bicycle). Why is the City not avoiding potential disasters? You're having drivers look away from the road to view a sign that may or may not be visible.
Another element that has been brought up is the buses. It might be worthwhile to adopt new transit routes... I've already submitted my recommendations.
Also if Dan is worried about the municipalities maybe he should give them the option to vote through a rate payers vote. If you're paying money to the City through taxes then you're receiving taxation with no representation. Many local businesses are owned by people that sit outside of the City limits. So a person who is successful, pays taxes, and has an education has no say in a system that they are paying into. Yet a person who has no vested interested in the City actually gets a vote because they have a physical address. That might be one way to show that you care about municipalities.
Another way to save money:
The YG seems to be taking the time to renovate the Legislative building. Maybe the city should do a better assessment of what can be renovated before they start rebuilding?
In closing, I don't blame the people that work for the City. They are simply using the system that is in place for them. My gripe is with the administration that feels the need to create lifestyles for people versus adopting a real approach towards managing a budget.
Oh well, ho hum, if you don't want to take the matters seriously and are completely blind to the facts and phone calls/emails that have been submitted to the City, then when something goes bad and you're held personally responsible for neglect of duty . . . (hint hint... there is a case right now in the Yukon that is being fought); you can't say no one ever told you.
One final thing: Do you think it would be a good idea to put an underpass instead of a traffic circle at Elijah Smith Elementary; I.E. a culvert underneath Hamilton Blvd.. to let children pass safely. (There are a couple further up).
Up 51 Down 2
CoW has one of the highest salary expenses in Canada. on Apr 13, 2016 at 9:38 am
For a municipal our size, CoW has more management than most Cities in Canada for our size.
The CoW is out of control on spending and proper operational management.
Up 88 Down 89
Ye Olde Financial Poste on Apr 12, 2016 at 6:12 pm
For those not sharing Wilfs financial pedigree, the translation is as follows; "Negative liberal led mayor spending other peoples money equals bad. So bad. Baaaaaaaad. Yukon party spending other peoples money makes good sense for Yukon! Good investment in our future."
That should sum it up.
Up 57 Down 2
TaxPayer on Apr 12, 2016 at 5:42 pm
If the City and Council stuck to their core mandate and didn't get concerned about things that are none of their business, they wouldn't need ever increasing funding.
And, maybe CoW staff should pay the same admission fees as everyone else, including those who live outside of Whitehorse, who uses the CGC. I wonder, how does the City account for that nice staff perk in the CGC budget?
Up 26 Down 0
north_of_60 on Apr 12, 2016 at 3:32 pm
@Mayor missing facts "Like purchasing two climate change killer buses for the City instead of moving to eclectic buses. "
If the new buses "kill climate change" isn't that the politically correct thing to do?
Since the 'death of climate change' can never be measured it's a political 'win-win', n'est pas?
As for buses that are 'eclectic ' ie. "Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles", I suppose that would be OK as long as it didn't increase the cost by much.
Before seriously considering electric vehicles as one of those eclectic choices, have a look at the real cost:
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth
Something that may appear green here, may actually be filthy toxic black at it's source.
Up 58 Down 158
Interested Observer on Apr 12, 2016 at 11:39 am
Pure politicking...nothing more, nothing less. Like others commenting here, I'd rather our Mayor focus on issues that require his attention, like the City's budget, than spending all his time devising ideas on how to embarrass the Yukon Government.
Up 62 Down 159
Rorex1983 on Apr 12, 2016 at 10:32 am
Mr. Curtis comments are all about playing politics and not about doing what's best for those who elected him. It seems to me that if he really wanted to ensure territorial funding, not only would he know about how much he was looking for but he would sit down with the elected territorial government and ask for it before he smeared them in the news.
Mr. Mayor you already refused to work with one Minister of Community Services and now it seems your working on destroying any sort of working relationship with the other. However I see right thru your political tactics Mr. Curtis, by not stating an amount of funding you need you can always say it's not enough, by smearing the territorial government before even talking to them you are hedging your bets (if you get funding you're a hero that overcame the oppressive conservatives, if you don't well then you called it and you have proved that they are a terrible party that doesn't care about the residents of Whitehorse). However the truth is that you're eroding any chances of securing funding and even if you did secure it no resident of Whitehorse is ever going to see any sort of a tax brake, you will just use it to fund whatever special interest group project tickles your fancy. Put bluntly, stop playing politics and do your job or you will be out of it.
Up 36 Down 3
ProScience Greenie on Apr 12, 2016 at 10:29 am
Indeed BnR it does apply to our Yukon government, present and past. And the Feds to. I do not have a vote or say in CoW politics, policy and spending but if I did I'd want the city to be frugal and to try to actually be more of a real wilderness city with character rather than a cheap clone of Grande Prairie or Prince George.
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BNR we are not the lowest in Canada for the cost of services on Apr 12, 2016 at 8:48 am
The Yukon municipalities are the highest subsidized municipal governments in Canada by the YPG. None of the Provinces are not even close to their municipalities that the Yukon municipalities receive in funding.. That is the real truth of the matter.
In 1993 myself and the CAO of the CoW with Association of Yukon Community commission did a study of funding for municipalities in Canada and compare to what the Yukon municipalities were receiving, so we could compare what the YTG give municipalities in more money.
Let's face it, the cost of the CoW costs have gone up a lot in the last five years 14% per year which is an indicator of bad management.
So when the CoW mayor tries to tell anyone we have a great deal going in the CoW in cost of services and taxes that is simply not true because most YPG funds and Build Canada find that they were both started by the conservatives party of Canada, who gives the CoW money.
In simple terms, if the YPG were to follow other regions in Canada the CoW would get less than half they receive now in funding from YTG.
Then we would jump to the highest cost of any municipality in Canada.
People of the CoW only believe what can be proven, nothing else.
This only part of the truth of the situation and all the BS we are getting fed money we don't have and residents are being snowed.
Wilf Carter
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Mayor missing facts on Apr 12, 2016 at 8:24 am
City of Whitehorse funding has gone from $12 million in 2012 to $18 million in 2015
That is a 33% increase under the YPG to the CoW.
On top of this you have the CoW increasing cost of service by an average of 6% per year for the last four over and above the 33% increase in funding..
So that adds up to a :
33/4= 8.25% increase in funding per year plus on top of that 6% increase in taxes/revenue collection, which equals 8.25% + 6% = 14.25% increase in the CoW operations cost over the last four years.
I think the City needs to employ some people with education in technical/financial management of municipal services.
The CoW has become the highest cost increases of municipal in Canada for the last for years.
The Mayor on Canadian Games Center asking the YPG to assist with the operating costs of the games center after the Mayor calling down the YPG every chance it could by making statements about no one is working on housing when the First Nation and YPG were working together.
By the way, didn't Wilf Carter have that as a major issue in his platform for mayor?
The City is hurting because of weak management at the top, over spending in areas like housing which they don't have the money for and the Feds are supposed to spend and up have not.
The City is cost of operations is out of control and has to be dealt with before it gets so bad we can't live with it.
If the mayor and City Manager would supply me the variance statements that are correct I can give them some suggestions on how to make the City more effective.
The Mayor or City Manager well not hand over public documents to the residents of CoW.. What are they hiding?
CoW is spending $56 plus million dollars on a new building and using the worse possible option to develop the building putting the City in highest possible financial risk over the next 25 years.
CoW mayor has messed up waste management and made into a garbage dump of trouble that he is trying to blame the YPG for and he knows it.
Can you image crushing glass and then hauling it to the dump.
Showing such poor fiscal management over the last four years and actions that show only bad management practices of the CoW for the CoW.
Can you imagine this mayor getting control of Build Canada money!
Like the COW purchasing two climate change killer buses for the City instead of moving to eclectic buses. Only common sense. if approved the money to purchase the buses that are not green goes against their mandate.
O yes, wasn't it Wilf Carter's idea to have more RCMP in the City or crime stoppers as residents wanted?
Where is the NDP and Liberals on all of this? Asleep at their desks and have no solutions.
People of the CoW and Yukon we are at a low ebb right now and we will see the truth in a few years when the dust settles on all of what has been done in the CoW. But by that time some one with strong fiscal management skills will have to clean up the mess.
Up 23 Down 2
Comparisons? on Apr 12, 2016 at 8:21 am
BNR, you wrote "Our taxes are still so low in comparison to other costs with the kind of services we enjoy." I hear that often, but have never seen actual facts or data that support the statement. Do you have some? If so, please share.
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Matthew on Apr 11, 2016 at 9:32 pm
I agree with all of the above
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Politico on Apr 11, 2016 at 8:24 pm
@PSGreenie All you do is complain without any evidence or suggestions. Maybe some concrete offerings are in order or is it just too easy to rail without direction. Remember that the Mayor and all the elected councilors, including the ones that campaigned on fiscal restraint, all voted for the current budget. What are they seeing that you are not.
Up 13 Down 102
G Brown on Apr 11, 2016 at 6:39 pm
I would like to see the potholes on all the streets fixed, that should be a priority. Also, I think the City has to do something about all the beggars, bicycle riders and skateboarders that automatically show up at 5:30 right after the meter maids go home. This is a much bigger problem than you know, someone is going to get hurt very bad by one of these people who ride bicycles and skateboards up and down Main Street as fast as they can go. All it takes is for a Senior Citizen to come out of one of the buildings right in the path of those idiots and wham, City of Whitehorse, you have a Lawsuit to deal with. And for the Beggars, it's pretty sickening to walk up and down Main Street and have three or four of these beggars trying to get your change, it doesn't look good to the Tourists either, but you won't do anything just like you've done for the past years, you need to wake up.
Up 20 Down 36
BnR on Apr 11, 2016 at 5:00 pm
PSGreenie
Your comment could be directed at the Yukon gov as well.
However, this is our duly elected council, and the mayor is only one small piece in the machine. Our taxes are still so low in comparison to other costs with the kind of services we enjoy. Next election, you will have a chance to vote them out and show your displeasure, or, you can run and do a better job, right? Problem is, everyone, including yourself, wants services, and it all costs money.
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Adele Sandrock on Apr 11, 2016 at 4:53 pm
That works well and I'm disappointed by you Mayor Dan.
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Hm... on Apr 11, 2016 at 3:43 pm
...so Mr. Mayor doesn't like the budget. Of course coming from a Liberal what would you expect. He is playing nothing but politics. Perhaps he should focus his limited energies on the city. Of course it is easier to throw stones at someone else. Think of it as a distraction from his own backyard.
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ProScience Greenie on Apr 11, 2016 at 2:57 pm
Whitehorse needs to learn to live within its means and stop spending like drunken sailors with other people's money. Why is that so hard for them to do?
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Francis Pillman on Apr 11, 2016 at 2:32 pm
And your leadership disappoints me Mr. mayor. $500 million, or half of the budget is government wages. That's utterly ridiculous. Same deal with the COW. Funny how the yearly increase in taxes always usually equals the yearly wage increase in the collective agreement. Funny eh?