Halifax wrestles with financial shortfall

Mayor Peter Kelly and City Council were stopped from bringing us the total econimic disaster of the Commonwealth Games so they seemingly did the next best thing (in their minds) the Canada Winter games. Original estimated costs? Around $46 million
(see breakdown here http://www.novascotialife.com/chartermembers/2011-halifax-canada-games ) and we are already $30 million in the hole. Bad news is the games haven't been held yet. What will the final cost be? I doubt if Council can or will tell you but they'll roll merrily along spending money they don't have, running up horrendous debt against future increased tax grabs. Yes another year under their belt putting us deeper and deeper into debt. In addition to this city council just spent $2,802,339 buying an old rail spur. Now they will have to fork out money to develop it into the trail they are dreaming of and then there will be the cost of regular maintenance. How do we get it through our politicians heads, we are not made of money!!! If you want to save money divide HRM into 5 districts with 2 reps per district. 13 councillors gone and savings of millions of dollars a year. You can tell Mayor Kelly how thrilled you are with his spending habits at kellyp@halifax.ca
Full aeticle on debt at http://thechronicleherald.ca/Metro/1169114.html
Bruce DeVenne