Please sign the petition against the proposed 10% annual tax increases

Please sign here: https://form.jotform.com/250938487734269

Like the rest of Canada, residents of Rossland are under significant financial pressure in today’s unstable economic environment. Recognizing the need to prepare for the staggered, eventual replacement of our aging city infrastructure, Rossland residents are proposing a limit on the 2025 municipal portion of property tax increase to a maximum of 6% based on the following:

1.    Departmental budgets to also be cut by 4% in 2025 while required studies are completed on infrastructure replacement. This will result in a mandated reserves balance in excess of the $10M, estimated between $15-16M. As of April 4, 2025:

·         Various proposed departmental budgets are straight-lined and factually incorrect;

·         Capital estimates for years 2026 onwards are “best-guesses” and do not have concrete figures associated with;

·         No future growth at either Redstone or Red Mountain developments have been factored into Revenue forecasts;

·         Other sources of financing, including debt, DCCs and ACCs have not been fully examined;

·          Proposing a 10% annual compounded property tax increase on residents without full transparency of information, which is not yet available.

 2.    Adjust external public communications on By-law for 5-Year Financial plan to exclude “annual tax increases of 10% for years 2025 – 2029”. 

3.    Implementation of a hiring freeze – compensation currently ~$4M (2024) for staff at a city of ~4,000 full-time residents; examine greater position sharing between Warfield/Trail; reduce Payroll-to-Revenue ratio – currently sits at ~23.5%.

4.     Reduction in proposed “nice-to-have’s” throughout capital budget, including the Trail Resident Program ($130k), Redstone playground ($170k), Communications Plan ($50k); and pass on annual grass cutting maintenance of school Jubilee field ($62.5k) back to the School District-20. Defer Greenlink ($5.5M) until fully grant funded. Re-examine the full culture and recreation budget, while ensuring additional cost reductions in order to focus spending on the ageing city infrastructure.

5.    Council acknowledging their desire to “Support and enhance access to diverse housing options for all ages, abilities and incomes” cannot be accomplished by increasing municipal property tax rates by 61% over 5 years. These increases will only drive rental rates higher for those who are in the rental market, while pushing current homeowners out of the city due to ballooning annual property tax rates.

6.    Taking a new approach to providing clear and concise communications – whereby residents are not given alarmist figures, such as a $210M cost to replace city infrastructure (when not required), or withholding the full capital spending and implementation schedule for the “significant $53M infrastructure deficit” that is consistently referenced.

7.      Expedition of the sale of unused city properties, including the 5 properties listed in the 2023 Financial Statements.

8.       Partnering with local groups to generate new long-term revenue sources. Foster and encourage local business start-ups and continued growth within our local businesses. Future city infrastructure replacement cannot be sustained solely by residential taxpayers. 

By participating in this petition, you're joining your community in voicing your concerns and advocating for solutions that benefit everyone. Your involvement is essential in shaping the future of Rossland and ensuring that it remains an affordable and thriving place to live, work, and play.