Together, on October 27, we can create BETTER
!
As your mayor, I will create A GUELPH by: 1/ Limiting tax increases to the rate of inflation or lower by controlling excessive spending and borrowing.
2/ 3/ 4/
Delivering cost-effective and efficient core city services.
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Supporting downtown without the use of a punitive tax levy, while promoting development that ensures all corners of Guelph are equally respected.
Creating an actual transparent government that avoids costly mistakes. Eliminating the “Guelph Factor” by changing the culture at city hall, rebuilding trust and valuing business.
1/ LIMIT TAX INCREASES TO THE RATE OF INFLATION OR LOWER BY CONTROLLING EXCESSIVE SPENDING AND BORROWING
And here’s how:
Your property taxes are going up almost 14% over the next three years.
The recent transit stoppage gave me the chance to talk to a lot of the drivers. My opponent’s transit restructuring with revised routes, at a substantial cost to the taxpayers, was a disaster. Drivers are on the bus more than any resident or city management and have a lot of great ideas on how to design a more efficient system. There’s an overwhelming belief by the drivers that they aren’t being listened to. And it’s not specific to transit.
I know this isn’t the best way to start off my platform for A Better Guelph, but I needed to get your attention. An economics degree would be helpful in understanding the Farbridge administration’s “Guelph Tax Formula.” In short, it always starts with the assumption that you can afford taxes that are two to three times higher than the rate of inflation. Staff reports have suggested by 2015 alone, we’ll be starting the budget process with a 6.2% increase. Under my leadership city hall will plan, each year, to try to reduce the tax burden on its residents. Limiting property tax to no higher than the rate of inflation means the city has to prioritize spending. Mandated services must be provided. Everything else is discretionary. And yes, the discretionary items might make living in Guelph great for some. But some of those items make living in Guelph expensive for all. As I have discussed year after year as city councillor, I propose we start at the beginning—at zero. That’s called Zero-Based Budgeting and it’s what I support. We need to start at zero and go over every line item. The longer we spend going over expenditures, the more time we have to locate potential savings. In the end, that’s really all we’re tasked with—protecting you and your tax dollars and regularly reviewing the performance of our programs.
Cam fought hard for Costco to be open earlier for Guelph residents.
2/ DELIVER COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT CORE CITY SERVICES
It’s time we listen to the people who provide these services every day. By starting with the front-line staff we will welcome and encourage input from the heart and soul of the service. Because of this, I plan to propose an incentive program for City employees that identify any council-approved cost-saving measure. The recent labour dispute has also led me to believe that we need a designated councillor appointed to these negotiations and discussions as an observer. The sole task of this appointed councillor will be to keep council properly informed and make sure last minute surprises like we’ve all just witnessed, don’t happen again. There are also a number of opportunities to provide some City services in non-traditional formats. Services such as waste management, park maintenance, and snow removal could be provided at significantly lower costs than the City currently budgets, and all without any disruption to service levels. In fact, we may even see an increase in service. While my opponent wishes to focus on global initiatives, I’d like to tackle issues located right outside your door. Guelph roads are a
Cam and his family take time to enjoy Ribfest, one of the city’s many community events.
Cam frequently meets with business owners to help them succeed.
mess. Our sports fields are under serviced and our infrastructure is crumbling. Evidence will drive decisions under the leadership and direction of my administration. I am committed to funding only those services that are supported by strong business cases.
3/ CREATE AN ACTUAL TRANSPARENT GOVERNMENT THAT AVOIDS COSTLY MISTAKES No more automatic raises for councillors and the mayor. I will propose freezing them. I’d also like to move towards less in camera discussions. While the City is required to do so in certain cases, it shouldn’t be to allow elected officials to play politics. In the truest form of transparency, I plan on having the City post every expenditure online. Not just city council, but staff as well. It’s your money, after all. You deserve to know where it goes. I honestly can’t think of a better set of auditors than Guelph residents. I have no doubt that by disclosing this, informed citizens will be able to identify and report further cost-saving measures and avenues. And let’s go one step further and create a citizens’ budget task force which will take part in the budget process. For too long your government has side-stepped using technology to be transparent. I’ll implement video-streamed, recorded and easily accessible archived council committee meetings. The technology has been available for years and never used. I will also explore with the new council moving committee meetings to better accessible time-slots where the public can attend, speak and be heard.
4/ ELIMINATE "THE GUELPH FACTOR" BY CHANGING THE CULTURE AT CITY HALL, REBUILDING TRUST AND VALUING BUSINESS The current administration’s extensive use of regulations, restrictions, delays and unrealistic guidelines drive away potential employers, residents and opportunities. If “the Guelph Factor” is a myth, why are there so many commercially under-serviced communities in Guelph? If “the Guelph Factor” is a myth, then shouldn’t the influx of development be lowering our tax rates?
start welcoming in the private sector. The private sector brings with it a tremendous range of opportunities. Not just jobs and shopping centres, but the potential to partner in much needed municipal facilities (I’m looking at you, south end). By working with development instead of restricting it, the revenue received from development charges will help offset the tax burden on the current tax payers, and offset upcoming municipal capital costs to all residents in the future. Empty buildings and undeveloped land—like the IMICO site—haven’t proven to raise revenue, so let’s try a new approach. I have already had inquiries from the private sector on opportunities like those listed above. They’ve reached out to me because they were tired of waiting around with no returned phone calls.
5/ SUPPORT DOWNTOWN WITHOUT THE USE OF A PUNITIVE TAX LEVY, WHILE PROMOTING DEVELOPMENT THAT ENSURES ALL CORNERS OF GUELPH ARE EQUALLY RESPECTED I actually favour a revitalized and vibrant downtown. I just differ with the mayor on how we get there. I won’t support a punitive tax levy. Unlike my opponent, I won’t even entertain the possibility. I won’t support overtaxing current residents for the benefit of future residents. And I won’t support the exclusive focus on downtown while many residents complain of being under-serviced in other parts of Guelph. We’re in this together, we grow together. A push towards tomorrow shouldn’t be at the expense of the past. There are so many historical buildings and neighbourhoods in Guelph. I won’t support decisions that don’t include an extensive plan to focus, maintain or hopefully even improve Guelph’s heritage preservation. On top of the savings and private sector involvement I’ve outlined so far, we’re going to need to generate additional revenue in order to remain out of your pockets and children’s education savings. Did you know that there is a huge amount in taxes and fines the City doesn’t collect? While I’m not in favour of superfluous taxes, I do think it’s a responsibility to pay what you’re required. And it’s the City’s responsibility to collect it.
We know “the Guelph Factor” is real, and it’s the result of limiting resident’s choices in order to carry out the vision of the current mayor. A vision that resulted in crumbling roads and infrastructure, million-dollar overtime boondoggles and resource mismanagement. A vision that bulldozes established businesses.
Lastly, simply think of the savings on costly mistakes due to a lack of leadership on any number of issues. That’s money spent that we could have put towards east end development initiatives, a south end rec-centre or downtown redevelopment.
“The Guelph Factor” is largely responsible for the lack of development in the east end and a recreation centre in the south. We’ll never have the opportunity for private partnerships if we don’t
Just imagine…
Cam and Rachel Guthrie recently celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary.
Knowing the benefit to the city, Cam was the first person to encourage the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to hold their 2013 season in Guelph.
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Listening to all citizens has always been a priority for Cam.
GUELPH
Cam frequently gives back to the community such as Trees for Tots fundraiser.
LET'S
Tuesday, September 16 7 - 8.30 pm HOPE House, 75 Norfolk Street
With Cam Guthrie
“Leadership is in Cam Guthrie’s character, in his being, in his ‘let’s get it done’ attitude and in his ‘never give up hope’ when tackling problems. This is exactly why we need Cam Guthrie to lead our city.” Jim Furfaro City of Guelph Councillor
Corner of Cork and Norfolk
“Cam Guthrie has a strong willingness to work for the people of Guelph. I believe he will be a mayor we can all be proud of. ”
“Guelph needs a leader like Cam Guthrie. Someone who’s not afraid to tell it like it is and be transparent. There’s no doubt in my mind that we will have A Better Guelph with Cam as mayor. ”
Andy Van Hellemond City of Guelph Councillor
Gloria Kovach City of Guelph Councillor
cut here and place on fridge
On October 27, 2014, make your voice heard in the City of Guelph by voting Cam Guthrie for Mayor September 2nd
Voters can submit an “Application to Amend the Voters List” to be added or have corrections made to the Voters List until Election Day
September Proxy vote applications can be filed with the City Clerk’s Office until Election Day “A proxy must be someone who is eligible to vote in the City of Guelph and who you trust to vote in accordance with your wishes. You are allowed to act as a proxy only once for a non-related person. You are allowed to act as a proxy more than once if you are voting on behalf of immediate family members (spouse, sibling, parent, children, grandparent, and grandchild)”
Advance voting information: October 15 & 16 - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. October 17 & 18 - 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. October 19 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
October 7-24
Advance internet voting
October 15-19 Advance voting
Polling stations: Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden St. Evergreen Seniors Community Centre, 683 Woolwich St. Stone Road Mall, 435 Stone Rd., W, 2nd floor Unit R2
Reminder that separate voting times will be held for residents of institutions, retirement homes and assisted living apartments. Are you on the voters list? Visit here for further information https://www.voterlookup.ca/
70 Wyndham Street South
519 767 0101
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@abetterguelph
cam@abetterguelph.ca Authorized by CFO of Cam Guthrie Campaign
October 27 Election Day