Bill of Rights needed for local taxpayers

Mr. John Penniless, Ms. Jane Penury and Mx. Angel Broke wants to talk with municipalities about their relationship.

With the election behind them, municipal taxpayers will continue to think about their own situation and ask themselves if they are better off now than four years ago? To that end, how can their rights as municipal taxpayers be improved?

It’s just that the penny has dropped – actually taken out of circulation years ago and the nickel may follow – after discombobulated individual taxpayers have realized local politicians want more and more of their hard-earned money. It seems more and more increases are hidden in fees and creeping utility costs. It’s apparent the appetite for more of our pay cheque or pension is insatiable and relentless.

Then consider a recent edition of The Economist magazine and a feature essay entitled “Governments are bigger than ever. They are also useless. Why voters across the rich world are miserable.” which argues that many governments around the world have turned into costlier and costlier ‘Lumbering Leviathans.’

Between cost of living worries, never mind, user fee escalation, shrinkflation and ever increasing utility fees, most of us are feeling dispirited. Grand ideas from politicians at the provincial and federal level may or may not be delivered well at the ground level with the help of local government and well-governed communities.

So, we hope our proposed Bill of Rights for Municipal Property Taxpayers in Greater Victoria (and maybe beyond) will prompt debate. Property taxpayers of course are protected to varying degrees by the laws of their municipality, the province and federal government.

It follows then that taxpayers should be treated more fairly in all dealings with their local government, not just those codified in law.

Municipal mandarins need to be reminded there are other important rights that must also be respected:

1. You have the right to see evidence from municipal councils that they are focusing on their core mandate while exercising cost control in providing high value, quality essential services.

2. You have the right to know if every effort was made to cut costs by sharing or integrating services with the many other nearby jurisdictions.

3. You have the right to expect municipal governments will make every reasonable effort to be transparent and provide you with access to full, accurate and timely information about the municipality, and your rights under it.

4. You have the right to be consulted about significant changes to your community, not going through the motions, but meaningful opportunities to voice your view followed by thoughtful dialogue.

5. You have the right to expect an easily accessible municipal webpage detailing council remuneration and expenses. It must include pay and expense policy, benefits policy, and sources and amounts of top-up pay.

6. You have the right to access on the municipal website council’s Statements of Financial Disclosure after Jan.15 each year to comply with the BC Financial Disclosure Act.

 7. You have the right to receive timely press releases to include all substantive items such as budget approval, financial plan and property tax rate changes. Less important public relations efforts should be secondary to important municipal changes.

8. You have the right to know the internal and external communications strategy of the jurisdiction.

9. You have the right to have ready access to important municipal reports and documents, along with common bylaws, on the municipal website.

10. You have the right to file an informal complaint with council under a Council Code of Conduct about questionable behaviour of a member of council and to receive a written response.

11. You have the right to be professionally, courteously and fairly treated by your municipality at all times.

One more ‘right’ will make a baker’s dozen, so taxpayers are invited to send your suggestions our way.

Revenue Canada perhaps put it best when introducing its landmark Taxpayer Bill of Rights: “You are entitled to know your rights. You are entitled to insist on them. You are entitled to be heard, and to be dealt with fairly…. Fair treatment of a complaint is one of your greatest rights.”

Does anyone not agree that a ‘Bill of Rights for Municipal Property Taxpayers’ is needed?