If the current Rothesay election is really about change then the six challengers for council seats; Brenan, Butler, Cseszko, Davis, MacKay-French, and Shea could be the change Rothesay residents are looking for.
The ballot box issues are simple. They are runaway spending and lack of transparency and accountability in Council’s decision making. We continue our look at how the challengers stand on these issues.
Michael Butler may be known to some as the author of stimulating letters to the editor. Others know him as a straight-shooting neighbour who became concerned that the current Rothesay Council was out of touch with the priorities of residents.
Butler, like many in his neighbourhood in French Village were concerned about the town’s out of control spending. They saw Council spending on big ticket frills while basic municipal infrastructure like fixing potholes and making streets safe with sidewalks weren’t getting the attention they deserved.
Mike has spoken about his concern that increased town debt to pay for those frills is making Rothesay unaffordable for young families and seniors. Mike believes that if we can return to fiscally responsible spending, the savings can be returned to us in the form of stable or lowered tax bills while still meeting our needs for basic services.
Mike’s position on the burden of our increasing taxes is validated by a Conference Board of Canada report just out and referenced in today’s TJ here (If you have an online account) . According to the TJ story, The Conference Board report says New Brunswick’s competitive position on property tax burden has deteriorated, “with its residents facing higher property taxes than elsewhere in the country.”
Butler understands that the proposed new Rothesay Arena will drive our taxes higher still.
He believes that the better option is to renovate it with money the Council has already set aside from the federal gas tax fund. If the renovation were to be cost shared as the Town wants the arena to be, Rothesay’s share of the cost to do renovations would be under $1.5 million compared with a hefty $5 million share of an estimated $15 million for a new arena, which is highly unlikely to get outside funding in any event.
Mike doesn’t take his position lightly. As a former hockey dad he understands how important a decent rink is to our hockey families. But he also understands that if we spend more than is necessary by building a new one, we will make the sport unaffordable to those who are already on the edge financially.
When I sat down with Mike this week I asked him what he’d been hearing at the door. He admitted to being surprised that the two key messages, he’d heard on his street, concern over increasing spending (on the wrong things) and lack of accountability for that spending and other council decisions, were messages that he has heard on the doorstep in all areas of town.
Rothesay is ready for a change of direction. Mike believes new councillors need to connect with the reality of a difficult job market for some and stagnant wages for others. With a major water and sewer upgrade mandated by new legislation, ratepayers will need a break on property taxes to make room in their wallets for the added fees that are coming with the new system.
Mike also believes that the town must return to a more respectful, less confrontational more open relationship with residents.
Mr. Butler’s platform, can be read on his website by following this link. For anyone who has followed his letters to the editor or who has engaged him at the door, Michael Butler has been consistent on the issues and his platform reflects the mood of voters who want a change to more fiscal responsibility and more open and respectful Council.
On May 9th if voters vote to get beyond the status quo, Michael Butler is very likely going to be a member of the new Council working for change.