Cards stacked against council gang pushing levy

Ottawa city councillorshave been taking jabs at each other all week over a proposal that would see the averagehomeowners's property tax bill rise by$12 to help improve the state of the city's roads.

Judging by the online bickering bolstered by an unofficial poll of council's quieter membersby CBCNewsthe plan appears dead on arrival.

Coun. JeffLeiperwillofficially table the motionWednesday morning when council begins debating the 2018 draft budget.

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It calls for a one-time 0.5 per cent infrastructure levy to help narrowa $70 million annual gapin the amount of money needed to keep Ottawa's roads, parks and other infrastructure in good condition.

Thecouncillorsbehind the motion say that amounts to about $1per month for the typicaltaxpayer.

The eight councils who support theinfrastructurelevy are:

• KitchissippiCoun. JeffLeiper
• Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum.
• Gloucester-SouthgateCoun. Diane Deans.
• Somerset Coun. CatherineMcKenney.
• KanataNorth Coun. Marianne Wilkinson.
• Rideau-VanierCoun.MathieuFleury.
• CapitalCoun. DavidChernushenko.
• CollegeCoun. RickChiarelli.

CBCreached out to all members of council who had not publicly stated where they stand on the motion, and not one plans to add their support.

'An effort to grandstand'

Severalcouncillorshave questioned the motivation of the eightcouncillorswho put the idea forward, accusing them of picking a fight with the mayor in an election year to win"political points."

"If they genuinely cared about improving the infrastructure of the city, they are going about it in a disingenuous way," saidCoun. GeorgeDarouzein a statement.

"This motion is an effort to grandstand."

Since the councillorsproposed the measurevia Twitter last Thursday, the backlash from their colleagues hasbeen biting and, at times, personal.

Coun. JodyMiticmissed most of the committee budget meetings because of a family matter. On Saturday he tweeted that his constituents would not be paying for the group's"bully tactics BS."

Coun. Diane Deans hit back, accusing her detractors ofelectioneering.

On Wednesday the sniping is expected to move to the councilchamber.

Awaiting mandate from residents

While mostcouncillorsagree more needs to be done to improve the state of the city's roads, some of those who oppose the motion said they'll wait to get a new mandate from their constituents in the next election before entertaining the notion of raising taxes beyond two per cent.

Had the concept ... been introduced earlier and more transparently in the budget process, we might have had the chance.- Coun. Keith Egli

"The next term I will be looking for one per cent increase for infrastructure to be directed to roads, culverts, sidewalks, and let the voters decide," saidCoun. Eli El Chantiry.

Otherssaid the budget debate isn't the right time to float a tax increase because some councillors haven't had a chance to properly consult with their residents.

"Had the concept of a city-wide levy been introduced earlier and more transparently in the budget process, we might have had the chance," said Coun. Keith Egli, chair of the transportation committee, in an email.

SomecouncillorstoldCBCa 0.5 per cent infrastructure levy won't make much of an impact on the state of the roads anyway.

Coun. Jean Cloutiersaid council must focus on a more sustainable solution to the infrastructure problem.

This summercouncil passed a long-range financial plan to close the infrastructure gap overthe next 10 years.

MarianSimulik, the city'streasurer, has pointed out that gap could be closed in half the time with an extra one per cent tax increase.