The Editor;
Re: “Branscombe House seeks artsy occupant,” News, Oct. 1
Your report on the money pit Branscombe House certainly got me out of my chair.
Now the finishing touches have been applied to the building, the city intends to find out what they are going to do with it. A prudent approach would have been to establish a need before breaking ground. Aside from a few rusty screws and a few doorknobs, it appears to have been a 100 per cent rebuild. I wonder if anyone knows the true cost of that project? It seems like it was the default place municipal workers went if there was nothing else to do.
Municipal taxes have risen at a rate well above inflation and at a rate above the increase of wages and pensions in most sectors. Each year, city council congratulates itself for keeping municipal costs in check. If they were in a non government role, I submit they would have been out of business years ago.
Property owners who pay for all of this need to think carefully as the election approaches. One question for those seeking election or re election would be: What concrete thing are you going to do to keep property tax increase below inflation? Tax payers should ask questions and chose very carefully.
Eric Sykes
Richmond
