To the Editor:

In the December 30th edition of The Weekly Press , a column submitted by the Municipality of East Hants, the author advocated the end of the CPI cap on increase on residential property assessment. It says that new property owners will compare their assessment to their neighbours and see a dramatic difference. Right now, if all homeowners did this they will see differences now although they all receive the same service.

Every taxpayer in the serviced area of the corridor should ask why they pay for municipal water by metered usage but when they flush the toilet with that water, they pay for sewers through assessment. Or, why homes on the same street receive the same benefit from street lights, fire, police or garbage pickup but pay differently as each residence is assessed differently.

In fact, the reason for the Assessment Cap was to help homeowners easily compare the growth in municipal spending as a tax rate comparison is easier to understand and therefore makes council more accountable.

Municipal units also now own the $20 million agency that handles all property assessment. They could relieve taxpayers of these costs as they could simply recover the cost of providing services on a per household basis (the Municipal Government Act already allows municipal units by statute to collect revenue on a per household unit basis).

Every budget is council’s opportunity, and our hope, for more progressive policy that will set East Hants on a long term path for real growth.

Let’s be blunt, the cap is not the issue. Our growth is due to our proximity to HRM and our current taxation and regulation policies are not designed for growth. If council can keep a lid on expenses, be more progressive on taxation and loosen development regulation and pass these savings to taxpayers, real growth will result. We will slowly develop a competitive taxation and regulation advantage that will complement our location.

Right now people leaving HRM have a choice of 10 or more municipal units within a one hour drive of downtown Halifax. East Hants can become known for the lowest tax and regulatory burden in Central Nova Scotia if our elected council wanted to set into motion the new growth strategy. Returning back to the 19th century does not lead us forward into the 21st century.

Wayne Fiander,

Belnan