When I compare my utility bill with the one I used to get five years ago I notice that it has increased by nearly 100%. My salary hasn’t.

When I draw up my budget I look at how much money I have coming in and how I can best allocate it — including saving some money for the future.

Engineering Services Manager Tom Warder lives in another world; in fact it would seem that the City of Red Deer lives in another world. First a budget is drawn up and the awareness dawns that there is not enough money coming in.

The solution? User fees set to rise for most services.

This is where the City of Red Deer councillors can make a difference. After all, councillors are responsible to the citizens of Red Deer who elected them and they have a mandate to adopt budgets that are in the citizen’s interest.

Good government budgets are not about how much will be spent, but how wisely money is spent. It’s about becoming more effective, seeking out how to do more with less, and identifying efficiencies.

A manager worth his salt will be able present a budget that is ‘less’ than the previous year. Many Red Deer citizens already have already been compelled to do more with less out of necessity.

I urge the City of Red Deer to reject Mr Warder’s budget. It’s time to get back to the real world where budgets are set based on current income.

Let’s stop the madness.

Emma Marsh

Red Deer