Prepare to get hosed

August 30th, 2010

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Education Minister Nancy Allan has signalled that property owners should prepare to be hosed by education tax increases this year.

Ms. Allan, of course, did not frame the signal in those words — she said this week that the government will not order school divisions to freeze tax rates — but it cynically amounts to the same thing.

Ms. Allan has not been long on the job. But she has been on the job long enough to know that a perfect storm is gathering around education property taxes, one from which she should be seeking to shield taxpayers. But instead, she declares it’s every school division for itself.

The perfect storm starts with the divisions, which have been agreeing to pay more teachers much more money to teach ever fewer children. Contract settlements have reached several times the rate of inflation, the most recent at 4.8 per cent, which will quickly become the norm for all. Why the settlements are so high is anybody’s guess in the current economic climate. But given the current economic climate — the government, which promised a balanced budget last spring, is already $600 million in deficit — the province is not going to be paying those wage increases, which leaves the hapless property owner, as Ms Allan must know.

To complicate — or is that implicate? — the situation, tax assessments this year have climbed on average 67 per cent under the recent reassessment. That dramatic rise, however, should not lead to a dramatic increase in property taxes. If everyone follows the City of Winnipeg’s policy of cutting mill rates by a 67 per cent equivalent to offset the expanded assessment base, a tax grab by stealth will not occur. That’s a policy, however, that the school divisions have ignored in the past, claiming to have frozen tax (mill) rates knowing that they would raise more lucre anyway. In 2002, for example, Winnipeg division raked in an extra $8 million under the scheme.

And what are taxpayers getting for this? The NDP government in its wisdom refuses to require standardized tests so there is no way of knowing. All we know is that in the absence of data, the province has reduced the school year from 200 days to as low as 193 to placate Labour Day vacationers, and it has guaranteed teachers that 10 of those days will be set aside for professional development.

At the same time, there are 136 more teachers on the job, in part because the government did not want to appear soft on obesity and declared that the reduced time in class should be further reduced by sending students to the gym.

So why is Ms. Allan ignoring all this and refusing to freeze education taxes? Because, while she’s a new minister, she is playing the same cynical game as the old ministers.

The government needs money, now more than ever, to cover the fact that its spending problems are bigger than its revenue problems in these tough times. Giving the green light to school divisions relieves the government of its responsibility to properly fund public education, as opposed to public education tax rebates.

But even more cynical is that, while the government refuses to accept responsibility, it hectors and lectures school trustees for raising property taxes in the absence of sufficient provincial funding.

Which is what Ms. Allan announced — she will not freeze taxes, she instead will pass judgement when taxes are raised.

So prepare to get hosed. But don’t blame the boards. This is the minister’s doing.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/prepare-to-get-hosed-81060087.html

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City budget projects four per cent tax increase

August 21st, 2010

Days after ringing in a new year promising slow economic revival nationwide, Red Deer city council will begin today poring over a lean operating budget with few additional services.

Over as many as eight days, civic leaders will review a $221-million operating budget that is trying to maintain service levels while ensuring staff hirings are kept to a minimum.

The budget submitted by city departments shows an average municipal tax increase of 4.06 per cent. An average home assessed at $280,000 in 2010 would face a municipal tax bill of just over $1,488 compared with $1,460 in 2009.

Last year, council approved a 7.05 per cent hike which was later reduced to 5.5 per cent after the education tax rate was finalized and combined with the municipal rate.

Red Deer Emergency Services may be one department feeling the pinch this year. Four or five additional fire-medics have been hired annually in recent years, but this tradition could be halted in 2010.

A hiring freeze on Mounties is also suggested. Last year, council approved for seven new Mounties, plus nine support positions. Only one half-time support position is proposed for the city RCMP detachment, which administration reports may result in more prioritization of phone calls, although call volumes are said to be decreasing.

During a media briefing on the operational budget Monday, Mayor Morris Flewwelling said residents shouldn’t be concerned that the city may not budget for more emergency personnel.

“But it will not address the chronic problem that we have where our number of police officers is lower than we’d like it to be,” he said. “I think the budget has been drafted in such a way that citizens will not see a sharp reduction.

“The lawns and parks will not go to hell, the firemen will still be there. . . it’s not one of those bone-cutting budgets.”

Overall service level cuts shouldn’t be outwardly obvious, Flewwelling said.

In late November, council passed a $106.9-million capital budget — a far cry from the 2008 figure of nearly $473 million. The 2009 operating budget was a record $209.3 million.

The decisions that council make over the coming days on whether to increase or cut costs, will weigh heavily on them as they head into an election year.

“You’re going to have to answer to the electorate very directly,” Flewwelling said.

Administration has proposed a budget of $217,300 for this October’s municipal election.

Council and senior administration cautioned departments to hold the line on spending, particularly when the city has experienced reduced revenues. It’s also expecting construction costs to resume climbing in 2010. Departments with additional requests beyond their base budgets were told they should be “critical” items. Those came in at $2.5 million.

City manager Craig Curtis unveiled the proposed operating budget by referring back to the city’s record on capital spending.

A Canadian Federation of Independent Business report showed that Red Deer was in the middle of the pack in Alberta when it came to curbing operational spending during 2000 to 2007. The Frontier Centre for Public Policy also released a report late last year, showing that Red Deer was a high capital spender per household in 2008.

Red Deer is generally “a fairly conservative spender” over the long haul and this year is illustrative of that, Curtis said.

Curtis said the city must live within its means.

“There will be a slight deterioration in terms of standards of road maintenance and parks because we’re not expanding the staff to deal with those areas,” Curtis said.

Budgets are either being frozen or decreased, so departments are having to think of new ways to do business, Curtis said.

Senior administration is asking for about 15 new fulltime equivalent positions, bringing the total to 1,315 positions. Last year, the city had 1,300 FTEs. In previous years, the city has hired around 80 or 100 employees.

New services will include a transit customer service centre in the downtown parkade being built along 49th Avenue.

Besides asking for 15 more employees, the city also anticipates not filling about 15 vacancies.

“The intent is to try to maintain as many of the service levels as we can without increasing our staff,” said Corporate Services director Lorraine Poth.

http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/City_budget_projects_4_tax_increase_80644672.html

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It’s time to sell municipal bonds

August 18th, 2010

Decline in state tax receipts, demand for social services put strain on states’ budgets

Many investors don’t realize that we are swimming in uncharted waters. Because the tremendous dislocation caused by the 2008 financial crisis will take years to recede fully, don’t let the recent relief rally in equity markets lull your clients into thinking that we are in a sustainable bull market.

Risk to capital remains high, although the market may have fooled many investors into thinking it has abated.

Powerful cyclical rallies are typical after significant corrections and are usually based on improving news, but they are rarely supported by improving fundamentals. For a secular bull market to emerge, economic growth must be supported by rising corporate revenue and earnings.

So far, earnings gains are due mostly to cost cutting.

Ominously, a looming crisis that has not yet been addressed exists within state and municipal budgets. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan group focusing on the needs of low-income families, the worst decline in tax receipts in decades has created unprecedented fiscal problems for states.

These revenue declines show no signs of letting up, and the center expects the current recession to be more severe than the last one, causing state fiscal problems to be deeper and more persistent than in previous recessions.

At least 48 states have budget concerns, with shortfalls estimated at $168 billion for the 2010 fiscal year. At least 36 states already anticipate significant deficits for 2011, with total budget shortfalls estimated at an additional $180 billion.

Many economists expect unemployment to peak well above 10% in 2010, which is significantly higher than in the last recession. With fewer people working, states will likely experience falling income tax receipts coupled with increased demand and expense for social services.

During recessions, consumers tend to spend less. This causes sales-tax receipts to fall dramatically. When combined with falling property tax receipts due to rising delinquencies and defaults on residential and commercial properties, the decline in state and municipal revenue may continue for some time.

These unprecedented fiscal problems should give pause to municipal bond investors.

Until now, the municipal bond market has completely ignored the risk of default. The historically low default risk, at an average 1.5%, has lulled many investors into a state of complacency. We find this eerily similar to the historically low 3% default rate on residential mortgages right before residential-mortgage-bond pricing hit the skids.

Mortgage defaults subsequently soared to levels not seen since the Great Depression, taking down some of the largest financial institutions in the world, and defaults are still rising.

In the face of the financial crisis and California’s budget problems, municipal bond prices fell by approximately 20% in 2008. Pricing recovered last year and, once again, many bonds traded at a premium.

It is baffling that prices have recovered when budget problems persist despite the deepest expense cuts by states and municipalities in history.

Whatever the cause, this is one of the best selling opportunities municipal bond investors will ever have.

This is a very rare win-win investment opportunity, as we expect muni bond prices to fall materially due to the increasing likelihood of bond defaults or the federal government moving too slowly to bail out troubled states and municipalities. (The current political climate does not seem to support even-greater federal deficits.)

The anticipated muni bond price collapse would cause yields to rise dramatically, presenting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy cheap tax-free bonds with extremely high yields.

To take advantage of the opportunity to buy low, investors in municipal bonds must sell before prices decline.

Investors may have to pay some tax. However, they can do so at the present capital gains tax rate, which is likely to rise significantly by next year.

Even if prices do not fall precipitously, it is extremely likely that inflationary pressures will cause interest rates to rise, which means that bond investors are still better off selling at today’s prices.

Investors who depend on muni bonds for income are advised to set aside a one-year reserve while they wait to reinvest.

http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100103/REG/301039991/1005/INVESTMENTSTRATEGIES

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A helping hand for Edmonton’s ‘house rich’

August 15th, 2010

Most of us know someone who’s “house rich” and “cash poor.” These are people who have very little income, but are living in their own homes in which they have some degree of equity. For the most part, the people in this position are seniors living on fixed incomes.

Living on a fixed income is never easy for anyone. But the events of the past couple years have made it even harder. Heating and lighting costs have gone up, and so too have costs for drainage and waste removal. The list of things that cost more now than they did a few years ago is a long one.

All those increased costs have made it much more difficult for seniors to stay in their own homes. The hard-hearted amongst us might say that these people should sell their homes and live off any equity that has accrued to the property. If they sold their properties, they might end up with cash in their pockets, but they would still need places to live. Given the current cost of renting, it is unlikely these people would end up with enough money to see themselves comfortably to the end of life. I would think that someone who has been a contributing citizen for 40 or 50 years deserves at least that much.

During the holidays, a friend of mine from Vancouver tipped me off about something that might be worth considering in Edmonton. British Columbia has a Property Tax Deferment Program that allows people over 55 and those with disabilities to defer their property taxes until they sell their home or die. The taxes and interest that have accrued must then be paid off before the home is sold. I don’t have enough space here to go into all the details, but if you are interested, there is information on the B.C. government’s website.

Though this is a provincial program in B.C., it seems to me that there is no reason we could not do the same for seniors and those with disabilities in Edmonton. I am not a fan of demand-driven social programs, so we might want to put a needs test in place. We would also have to determine what effect this might have on the civic coffers. But that aside, an extra $1,000 in the pocket of someone on a fixed income can make a real difference in their quality of life.

http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/comment/article/416278–a-helping-hand-for-edmonton-s-house-rich

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Anything can be sponsored in Candian city – even manhole repair

August 12th, 2010

A Canadian city has hit upon a novel idea to raise revenue. Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba province, is selling the naming rights of its services to people or corporates to raise funds for development projects.

Anyone can sponsor a service or a parking lot or a school and get it named after him. If someone sponsors repairs of potholes, he too can have his name immortalized in a plaque.

The authorities say everything from the city’s library books to dog licences is up for sponsorship. The city has already put dozens of services up for sponsorship, and there have inquiries by those willing to immortalize themselves.

Mayor Sam Katz says cities need to find alternative sources of revenue and this is a good alternative to raising property taxes.

He says raising money through this novel route is just like naming a hospital wing after a donor.

“It is incumbent upon us to look at all credible ways to increase revenue to the city of Winnipeg,” the mayor has been quoted as saying by the Canadian Press.

He says sponsorships of services will also give an opportunity to those who want to pay back to their cities and communities.

The mayor has not specified the sponsorship rates.

“It goes from little to lots. It all depends what it is you want to do and whatever your financial circumstances can commit you to. That’s up to the public. We’re not stating specific amounts,” he has been quoted as saying.

With Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the annual gathering of the Indian diaspora, round the corner, why can’t the hosts Delhi or the Indian government sell this idea to rich NRIs? Rather than selling equity, sell only the naming rights, said an NRI who is going to attend the PBD in New Delhi Jan 7-9.

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/business/anything-can-be-sponsored-in-candian-city-even-manhole-repair_100297719.html#ixzz0vslFYQbm

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Canadian housing market had strong finish to 2009

August 9th, 2010

The housing market in Canada has been stronger in the second half of 2009 than was widely anticipated. That has been particularly true for residential resales.

The first quarter of 2009 was nearly disastrous for the existing home market, but all of that turned around in late spring and early summer. Record low mortgage rates have done the trick.

Potential homebuyers know that they are not likely to ever see interest rates this low again.

As for new home construction, it is worth remembering that an existing home sale is often a prelude to a new home purchase.

There have been other factors that have contributed to recent resale strength as well.

The home renovation tax credit extending through February of next year is an incentive to spruce up one’s property and then, perhaps, put it on the market.

Also, Canadian labour markets have held up better than in the U.S.

The service sector in particular has experienced little in the way of job losses.

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The November labour report showed an overall increase in employment in Canada of 79,000 jobs.

There has been only one really bad labour market report in the past four months, in October, and that was partly an adjustment after strong August and September numbers.

The improving labour market overall, the Bank of Canada’s commitment to keep its trend-setting overnight rate at 0.25% until next summer, and the end to the recession are all serving to raise consumer confidence levels.

Add to the foregoing that foreign investors are seeing this country as well-positioned to benefit from the recovery. Foreign investment money is being attracted to Canadian stocks, commodities and to commercial and residential real estate.

The net effect is to raise the prospects for new home construction. CanaData has somewhat revised upward its housing starts forecasts for next year. The latest figures are set out in the accompanying tables.

It is remarkable the degree to which housing starts in the largest cities in Canada dominate their provincial residential markets. In Quebec, Montreal usually accounts for almost 50% of total starts in the province.

Toronto housing starts are usually slightly more than half of the total in Ontario. Calgary and Edmonton each account for about one-third of Alberta’s total.

Finally, Vancouver starts traditionally make up between 55% and 60% of total starts in British Columbia.

http://dcnonl.com/article/id36930

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Winnipeg offers naming rights for civic services

August 6th, 2010

Ever dreamed of having your name immortalized on a parking meter?

How about on a city bus ticket or a heart defibrillator in the back of an ambulance?

Winnipeg is banking on a few takers. The city that recently toyed with the idea of corporate-sponsored pothole repair is launching a new campaign aimed at raising money by selling off the naming rights of virtually any city service.

Everything from library books, to dog licences and memory sticks used in police cruisers is up for grabs. While the move has disgusted some who decry increased commercialism, Mayor Sam Katz says it’s no different than naming a hospital wing after a generous donor.

Open to average citizens

The city — like many municipalities across Canada — needs to find new sources of revenue and this is a good alternative to raising property taxes, Katz said.

“It’s incumbent upon us to look at all credible ways to increase revenue to the city of Winnipeg,” he said.

There are dozens of city services up for sponsorship and the city has already received inquiries. “There is no end to it.”

Sponsorship is open to average citizens, not just corporations, who want to give back to their community, said Katz.

But he refused to say what it could cost to be immortalized by sponsoring a city service.

“It goes from little to lots. It all depends what it is you want to do and whatever your financial circumstances can commit you to. That’s up to the public. We’re not stating specific amounts.”

There are going to be naysayers who find the program distasteful, Katz acknowledges. But it doesn’t make sense for the city to deny those who want to give a helping hand. “If someone wants to make a contribution to building a new community centre, are you going to tell me there is something wrong with that?”

Backward and unimaginative

Kalle Lasn can think of a dozen reasons why the sponsorship idea is a bad one. The founder and editor in chief of Adbusters magazine says it would be laughable if it weren’t so depressing. Selling off naming rights to city services is an example of backward and unimaginative thinking, he says.

Some cities, such as Sao Paulo in Brazil, are moving in the opposite direction by banning all advertising. Cities may be cash-strapped but plastering corporate ads on dog parks isn’t the answer, Lasn says. “It’s really depressing … They should learn how to be a little bit more innovative. There are ways of cutting back and ways of generating revenue that don’t include selling your soul to corporations.”

But some say Canadian municipalities are running out of options.

Stimulus not enough

Hans Cunningham, first vice-president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, says municipalities share an infrastructure deficit of about $123 billion.

Economic stimulus money from the federal government has helped recently, but it’s not enough to repair all the roads, bridges and water mains, he said. And the property tax base is already stretched, so cities have to look at user fees and other ways to raise money.

“It’s good that communities are creative and that’s very necessary in times like this. But it isn’t a permanent solution,” Cunningham says. “Sponsors come and go. When times are bad, it’s very difficult sometimes to get sponsors for things you need funds for.”

Marketing experts say such campaigns aren’t unusual in the United States.

Marvin Ryder, a marketing professor with McMaster University in Hamilton, said some American cities have sponsored pothole repair and other city services as a way of raising money. It makes sense for some businesses — such as real estate agents or dentists — to spend a few hundred dollars sponsoring a city service if it raises their profile and wins them customers, he said.

But the popularity of the idea rises and falls with the state of the economy.

“This is an idea that comes back every time we go through a recession as a way to substitute capital dollars with these donation dollars,” he said. “The idea goes away when we get into better times and there is more revenue to throw around.”

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/01/01/manitoba-winnipeg-naming-rights.html#ixzz0vskaNXWL

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Elevated river levels increase the risk of basement flooding across the Winnipeg

August 3rd, 2010

Red River levels rose dramatically over the weekend and were at 18.5 feet James Avenue by Monday evening. The river is expected to stay at this level for a few days before it starts to drop to seasonal normal. The excessive water brought on by the rainstorms prompted the province to open the gates of the Red River Floodway to mitigate the potential for greater flooding.

The city received over 500 hundred calls, via t he 311 line from Winnipeggers who experienced basement flooding.

The elevated river levels increase the risk management flooding across the city. When city levels are high, the normal capacity of the sewer system is reduced. With heavy rains, there is an increased risk of overloaded sewers backing up through house sewer lines and flowing into basements flooding is a risk at any time of the year, the risk increases with high levels because the sewer system must then rely heavily on pumping stations rather than gravity to carry the rainfall runoff.

“We urge all homeowners to take steps to protect their homes from basement flooding by installing a sewer line backup valve and a stump pit with pump in the basement,” said Bill Watters, field service operations engineer with the city’s water and waste department.

“Backup valves and sump pump drainage systems should be inspected every year in the early spring to make sure they are functioning properly for the rainy season,” said Watters.

“All residents should ensure drainage is directed away from the homw by extending downsprouts away from the basements walls and ensuring the earth is buily up around the house,” he added.

The city is reminding properly owners that it is against the law to drain sump pump water into the basement flood drain or any other part of the house plumbing system, as it can overtax the sewer system placing their basement, and those of their neighbours at risk of flooding and damage.

Residents who live along the river should move or secure any structures or equipment near the water’s edge, such as docks, sheds, gazebos, irrigation pumps and recreational equipment, when water levels rise. The city said each resident will have to determine how the rising river will impact their property, and take the necessary action to protect their belongings.

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Canadian home value stays strong

July 31st, 2010

Home prices will stabilize and remain the same for some time… this is what the report of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) had indicated.

In other words, Canadian homeowners are unlikely to experience what U.S .have underwent in terms of the decline of their home value.

“The relationships between average price and income has recently been cited as portending a U.S.- style correction in Canadian home prices,” said Gregory Klump, chief economist for CREA.

Home prices tend to perform well in the market in accordance with periods of sharp growth periods of stability. By contrast, income generally follows an orderly upwards trend over time.

Winnipeg REALTORS® president Claude Davis said the Winnipeg market is more characterized by the term “slow but steady.” In addition, it is known to be one of the most affordable markets in Canada which is not prone to accelerated price increase unlike Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.

“The Canadian housing market is now widely thought beat, or very near, the top of a cycle,” said Klump, “and the ratio of the home prices to incomes is currently high. This ratio will revert to its long-term average as it always does as part of a normal housing market cycle.

“History suggests, however, that it will not do so by means of a significant correction in home prices,” he added. “The more likely scenario is that home prices will stabilize, giving incomes chance to catch up again.”

Conservative lending practices in the mortgage industry combined with prudent borrowing and accelerated payments among Canadian mortgage holders have been seen throughout the recent housing market cycle.

Accelerated accumulation of home equity will provide options for the small proportion of homeowners who may face financial difficulty when their mortgage is renewed at a higher interest rate. Their trends are expected to help Canada avoid a U.S.-style housing crisis.

The unwinding of the housing boom in Canada will be more orderly, characterized by softening sales activity and stable prices, according to CREA.

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Income Tax Cut for 93% of Ontario Taxpayers

June 16th, 2010

McGuinty Government’s Tax Changes To Create Jobs, Attract Investment

Starting January 1, 2010, 93 per cent of Ontario income tax payers will get a permanent tax cut, as part of a comprehensive tax plan that will help create 591,000 jobs and make the province more attractive for new business investment.

The province is cutting the first income bracket tax rate by one percentage point, from 6.05 per cent to 5.05 per cent. As a result, Ontario will have the lowest tax rate of all provinces on the first income bracket, and an additional 90,000 lower income Ontario taxpayers will no longer pay any provincial personal income tax.

The comprehensive package also includes $10.6 billion in direct payments and permanent tax relief, including the following:

  • Starting in August, nearly 3 million low- to middle-income Ontario families and individuals will receive a new, permanent Ontario Sales Tax Credit of up to $260 for each adult and child per year – one of the most generous in Canada.
  • An additional $270 million in annual property tax relief, through enhancements to the Ontario Property Tax Credit, will benefit 2.3 million low- to middle-income homeowners and tenants.
  • Starting in June 2010, Sales Tax Transition Benefits will benefit 6.5 million Ontario families and individuals – totalling up to $1,000 for families (including single parents) and up to $300 for single people – in 2010 and 2011.

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