Competing, yet similar, tax relief measures for businesses presented at city hall
Posted May 30, 2019 7:01 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – City council appears to agree on tax relief for local businesses, just not as a cohesive group.
Ward 11 Jeromy Farkas is calling for emergency action on the budget to include cuts to councillor’s office budgets and pay as well as freezing council and the mayor’s pension.
“Essentially I’m offering an all you can cut buffet,” said Farkas. “A number of different options for the city council to adopt, it could be that council only goes for half of my ideas but even that is better than nothing which is what is in the table for business owners today.”
Following Farkas’ notice of motion, a very similar release from the remaining 14 councillors was announced.
Ward 13 councillor Dianne Colley-Urquhart wants $70.9 million to immediately go to businesses in the city.
“We absolutely have to do something in 2019 and that’s what we’re asking for on a go-forward basis. Even if the bills have already gone out to me that’s no excuse or reason for us to not be able to move forward,” said Colley-Urquhart who also dodged questions about why Farkas was left out of the motion.
Farkas has since tweeted that he tried to contact other councillors and the mayor about his motion.
I contacted several Council members today about my plans but received no notice in return. I also contacted the Mayor first thing in the morning with the details of my proposal and an offer to work together. #yyccc https://t.co/fAyIkTuf1Q
— Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas (@JeromyYYC) May 30, 2019
