NEWS ARCHIVESNovember 22, 2007 Have Your Say on The City’s Budget I truly believe that public input is the most important tool for Council as we head into this year’s budget deliberations. Yes, we have the documents outlining where and how we can find savings but it is with your thoughts and comments that we determine how your hard earned tax dollars are spent. The staff report presented to Council on Nov. 14 outlines three different scenarios including a zero per cent tax increase with $59 million in reductions or revenue increases, a 1.4 per cent tax increase with $45 million in reductions or revenue increases and a 3.4 per cent tax increase with $25 million in reductions or revenue increases. Please note that the above options do not include a 1.4 per cent police budget increase. In addition to this, the Mayor’s consultant Gordon J.
Hunter has released his report, which identifies $97 million in savings. I had
the opportunity to meet with Mr. Hunter last week to discuss his findings and it
was great to hear his thoughts on how we can provide services with the least
impact on Ottawa taxpayers. In the report, he outlines how to change the culture
at City Hall and offers opportunities towards efficiencies and revenue, base
program rationalization and also provides a proposed action plan.
Thank you to all of the talented young artists in our community who submitted their beautiful, festive art to my Christmas card contest. I enlisted the help of three judges from City Hall and it was truly a tough decision to choose the top four designs for my Christmas cards. Congratulations to Rishika Achyuthan, age four and Tristan
Thibault, age six, Ruthvik Achyuthan, age seven and Sarah Kazak, age 12. All
submissions will be displayed on the front window of my ward office, located at
1532 Stittsville Main Street. I encourage you to drop by and view the bright,
beautiful designs created by children in our community. Holiday Gathering Dec. 1 I would like to remind everyone about the Christmas gathering at my ward office this weekend. Please visit anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, crafts and conversation with members of your community. Santa Claus will be making a special visit between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and I encourage you to bring your children to visit with him and help get everyone into the Christmas spirit. My office will be providing coffee, tea and a variety of
baked goods and I encourage you to bring some of your own Christmas treats to
share with everyone. Also, I am taking this opportunity to collect donations for
the Stittsville Food Bank to help families in need this season. For more
information on my Christmas gathering please contact my office at 613-580-2476. Get into the Spirit On Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. I will be reading a wonderful Christmas story to children in our community at the Stittsville Library, located at 1637 Main Street. I have been invited to read ‘By Moon Glow’ which is one of 14 books in the beautiful Santa and the Spirit of Christmas series written by Stittsville author Bernard J. Muzeen. Mr. Muzeen’s books are a great collection of stories about children’s encounters with Santa and I look forward to having the opportunity to read some of his work. If you are unable to attend but would like to know more
about Santa and the Spirit of Christmas please email
Bernie@santaandthespiritofchristmas.com or visit
www.baici.ca. Many thanks to
Mr. Muzeen for his continued involvement in the community and for providing all
of us with this great holiday series. Dec.6 Vigil Please join staff and friends of the Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre (WOCRC) next week to honour all abused and murdered women. The WOCRC is hosting a vigil at their centre on Dec. 6 in remembrance of the 14 female engineering students who were murdered at Ecole Polytechnique on Dec. 6,1989. I encourage you to attend this vigil, which is taking place at 5:15 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the WOCRC, located at 2 MacNeil Court in Kanata. Sincerely, [ close window ] |
