Yellowknife dumps
infrastructure levy


How they voted

Motion: Keep the $5 infrastructure replacement levy

In favour: Ruth Spence, Trevor Kasteel, Blake Lyons, Vi Beck

Opposed: John Dalton, Merlyn Williams, Dick Peplow, Jo MacQuarrie, Dave Lovell


by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (DEC 04/96) - "You've put me in the worst of possible worlds," said Mayor Dave Lovell, just before breaking a tied vote on the $5 infrastructure levy.

Lovell found himself on the hot seat recently after an hour of heated debate over the budget for water and sewer system upgrading.

The $5 levy has been added to all city water bills each month since 1985, when a 15-year program to replace all antiquated parts of the water and sewer system began.

Under the draft budget the levy, which generates approximately $500,000 of revenue each year, was to be dropped. Lovell said that was the right thing to do during debate on a motion to keep the fee.

"We need to understand the context of this," urged the Mayor. "It was a different time financially. There was no block funding, and the system had serious problems. It was a crisis time and a crisis levy."

After aldermen voted to a tie, the mayor attempted to reiterate his position before casting the decisive vote.

He was cut short by Jo MacQuarrie on a point of order, MacQuarrie arguing the time for discussion had ended. After Lovell switched seats with deputy-mayor Blake Lyons to argue the point of order it was concluded rules of procedure did not allow for explanations once a vote was underway.

"I will vote against the motion, so the $5 levy will be defeated," announced Lovell in a worn voice after retaking his seat.

The draft budget assigned $3,825,000 for the work, part of a 15-year program that would see all antiquated parts of the system replaced by the year 2000.

To meet that target without making cuts in other areas, the city would have to either raise taxes, borrow the money or continue the $5 levy.

A motion put forward John Dalton to scale back next year's work by $500,000 to allow the fee to be either dropped or reduced, was defeated by a vote of 6-2 just prior to debate on the levy.

"Regardless of being ahead of the game, I think we should look to the future," stated Lyons. "I'm reckoning Yellowknife will continue to grow...it's not the most popular decision, but it's prudent."

The combination of the two votes leaves council to consider two ways of paying for the infrastructure work -- raise taxes to make up revenue lost by the elimination of the levy or borrow.

As the meeting wrapped Dalton set the stage for a rematch by mentioning a third option: "We can cut back on paving."