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To young Sudburyers: The results of the 2022 municipal election will determine your future in Greater Sudbury for the next 30 years and beyond. It is essential to pay attention and get involved in the voting process for the city council on October 24.

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The city is changing demographically, with no significant growth to replace the baby boomer cohort as they reach their final days. Dependence on top government funding – your taxes – is a fool’s game, as are expectations of future income without sustainable economic growth.

This is not an apocalyptic prediction. The council and the corporate city depend on your taxes. An aging and disappearing demographic cohort will not be able to sustain rising taxes and the cost of living. In 10 to 15 years, many elderly people will have died or will be in HLMs subsidized by your taxes.

The deferral of asset maintenance costs, rising from maintenance debt of $1.9 billion in 2016 to $2.9 billion in 2022 – and expected to reach over $3.2 billion by 2026 – is the destruction of assets provided by your taxes.

Since 2016, city borrowing has increased the debt from $18 million to $455 million. For 2022, the total debt is $3.4 billion, not including interest or inflation, on the backs of 115,000 voters, or about $30,000 per voter, plus personal debt or mortgages.

An increase in city budgets to meet just some of these costs was predicted by KPMG at more than $164 million per year, or about $1,300 per voter, before inflation and interest. It’s not just the blueprint for your future, it’s what the current council has committed to on your behalf.

Voters are now engaged in big, expensive legacy projects; financial abandonment of public assets; maintain main roads only; inadequate strategy for mental health; homelessness; seizures of opioid and drug abuse; lodging; quality and quantity of drinking water; $1 billion for undefined environmental projects; and irresponsible borrowing.

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These costs are already in your future, as are major expense plans for fire and police departments. The Council no longer manages the services properly.

Council’s plans for summer and winter road maintenance are to maintain the current level of service, with no upgrades, while duplicating, not replacing, the community arena, existing library and art gallery. These assets, along with other arenas, swimming pools, fire stations and roadside depots, were paid for by today’s seniors. Where will the money come from to fund the upkeep of these assets, given the unrestricted inherited spending from the current board and plans for future spending? Answer: You and your children.

Frustrated and angry at the cost of living and taxes rising faster than wage and pension fund increases, voters can’t expect that to change unless you take responsibility of your choice of representation at the time of the elections.

Tax management of business service delivery must begin with the 2022 election. Your board selection must be based on candidates who demonstrate their qualifications, ability and commitment to serving the community.

Thomas Price

Institute Our City-Our Cities