Today I received the 2014 utility bill from my city. For comparison, I pulled out my records to see the bill I paid in 2004 – 10 years ago. Well, in 2004, I paid $553 and now in 2014 the bill amount is $960. An increase of more than 73 per cent over the 10-year period. Wow! Had my income gone up that high over the same period?
My expenses certainly have outpaced my income in real dollar terms. Where do people find the money to pay for all these ever-increasing expenses?
Now I am “expectantly” looking forward to the bigger assault – the property tax bill from my beloved city.
If I don’t pay the bill before the due date, I will have to find an extra five per cent as late payment fee. I wonder, are the city budget architects praying that all residents end up paying five per cent more to rescue their budget each year?
Indeed our governments are facing a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
Thomas George