If Flin Flon voters are hoping for a major shift in the way the city does business, they seem unlikely to get it.
At least on the surface.
No matter the outcome of Wednesday’s civic election, a majority of the next city council – at least four of seven members – are guaranteed to be incumbents.
Having over half of the same people in charge does not necessarily mean a protraction of policies from the past four years.
But it does dampen any expectations that big changes are on the way – and whether you think that is good or bad depends on your own perspective.
As candidates have unveiled their platforms, it has been interesting to see where each stands on the issues of the day.
When The Reminder asked city council candidates whether they would support an application by Flin Flon to annex cottage country, only two or three, to my reading, definitively left the door open to saying yes.
Voters can be forgiven for wondering whether annexation – a tool the current council has kept on the table throughout funding negotiations with area cabin owners – would even have municipal support to proceed should it come to that.
Another issue we have heard much about is the future of Flin Flon’s recreational facilities, which, as this council rightly points out, are used regionally but largely funded locally.
When the seven council candidates were asked whether they would vote to close a rec facility rather than cut spending elsewhere, the string of “no” replies was unsurprising.
Again, voters must question whether our rec facilities somehow rest on a fragile foundation, as widespread perception
suggests.
The threat of a rec facility closure has always struck me as hollow. Of Flin Flon’s three major rec buildings, the Community Hall, Aqua Centre and Whitney Forum, the latter is by far the most expensive at roughly $500,000 a year.
Now, $500,000 may sound like a lot to you and me, but in city budget terms it equates to just four per cent of projected spending this year.
Voters should have confidence that if push comes to shove and the city is in dire financial straits, the requisite money could be extracted from elsewhere within the budget.
What we’ve heard relatively little about this campaign is the idea of reducing property taxes. This reveals a disconnect between residents and the people who wish to represent them.
In less than a decade, Flin Flon property taxes have emerged as a key cost-of-living concern for many residents. Homeowners who watch their bills soar by hundreds of dollars a year are legitimately worried, with some preparing for the apparent inevitability of a “For Sale” sign.
Unfortunately, Flin Flonners who have trouble paying their taxes are sometimes viewed with suspicion given all of the high-paying jobs in our community. It’s almost like they’re not allowed to struggle when so many around them enjoy abundance.
The truth is that there are more low- and middle-income jobs in Flin Flon than high-income ones. Our next council must be mindful of this reality.
The next council must also carry on the current council’s willingness to stand up to the provincial government and refuse some of its more impractical spending mandates.
It’s easy to take this sentiment too far. Some have wrongly suggested, for instance, that Flin Flon didn’t need a provincially mandated water treatment plant, but what was the alternative? Forcing residents to drink certifiably unhealthy water?
The water treatment plant was necessary, but for every useful thing the province mandates, there are probably two or three that serve only to hinder, baffle and, most importantly, cost money.
It’s a cliché to say so, but Flin Flon has a challenging road ahead in the next four years. See you at the polls.
Local Angle runs Fridays.
