NEW COUNCIL TALKS 'BOLD CHANGE' WITH A HIGH PRICE TAG

Decisions made within the first 100 days of any new government administration may only be a symbolic and arbitrary determination from a bygone era, but for Hamilton's new council, there are still several emerging themes after 10 new councillors were elected last fall.

There are two phrases that so far can describe this new council: "bold change" and "tax and spend." While both are not synonymous, together they epitomize the yin-and-yang of the internal dichotomy that could ultimately derail the future progressive plans of this council.

BOLD CHANGE

No doubt the majority of the new councillors elected, specifically Ward 2 Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, Dundas' Alex Wilson, Ancaster's Craig Cassar and Ward 4's Tammy Hwang, have been leaders in trying to turn Hamilton's ingrained policies and programs around, with some surprising successes. Hwang's idea to accelerate the city's cycling master plan was a bold stroke that received buy-in from the majority of all councillors. And Kroetsch's motion to provide $2.6 million to the YWCA, after the community organization had been repeatedly turned away from council in the past, highlighted council's agenda: to pry open the entrenched bureaucracy and jolt the council out of a political stagnancy, so that Hamilton actually does help its vulnerable population rather than just pay lip service to the idea.

But the "bold change" does have its drawbacks. If you want to transform Hamilton, you don't announce — as one of your first decisions in power — that you will not talk to the media on some small issue that, while important in general, is more ideologically specific and grievance filled. That "bold change" also doesn't include getting thrown out of a committee meeting, as Kroetsch managed to do. It reminded political watchers of the worst days of the dysfunctional committee meetings with former Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead, as this council has been much more professional and collegial than in the past. And tilting at political windmills may be a nice platform during an election campaign, but for some councillors, challenging the chair on decisions without concrete reasons is more about political highlights than actual accomplishments.

TAX AND SPEND

During the municipal election, a running theme was how the cost of living, rampant inflation and

higher costs were impacting residents, predominately seniors on fixed incomes. Fast forward to council's first 138 days, and for the most part, "affordability" has been relegated to the campaign wastebasket.

Councillors approved a significant 6.49 per cent water and wastewater hike for 2023, with expectations it will be nearly the same in 2024. It was an understandable decision in the wake of the broken sewer pipes and waste flowing into Hamilton Harbour. It follows

councillors' proposed vote on the 2023 budget, with a proposed average tax increase of 6.7 per cent, the highest since amalgamation.

Councillors, except for a couple, have pretty much ignored residents' affordability problems, arguing first that the people voted for councillors to spend money to improve Hamilton, and second that if money isn't spent now, it will be more costly down the road.

Yet one of the first operating budget items the new councillors proposed was a $1.2-million office budget for themselves. After it was defeated, councillors settled on a $600,000 boost, saying it will be used to improve engagement with residents. And while they readily agreed to spend money on housing programs, including an unprecedented $2.6 million to the YMCA for housing supports, they also spent money to accelerate the cycling master plan, start an internet voting reserve fund, fund more transit, expand the infrastructure levy and fund additional social programs. While these may be needed, in the context of the economic environment, they could have been delayed. Mountain Coun. John-Paul Danko, who has heard the "tax and spend" mantra from critics, made the point that he can justify the tax increase to residents. But will homeowners accept it, especially when most will not see those improved services or programs for the higher tax dollars being paid? Finance staff made a public point that they had proposed a 2.5 per cent "maintenance" budget, while councillors approved the 4.2 per cent additional tax on their own.

And higher taxes in the range of three and four per cent are being proposed for 2023 and 2024 in the city's multi-year budgeting process, something councillors can look forward to.

Once the budget is approved on March 29 and residents begin receiving their bills in May and June, councillors will definitely have need of that extra $40,000 in office expenses to defend the higher taxes to their residents.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: We wanted to take a deep dive into council's first 100 days in office and asked veteran political reporter Kevin Werner analyze the trends and themes he's observed so far.