HUMBOLDT — Tax rates, leadership skills and a future Broncos memorial were among the topics discussed at an online all-candidates forum by the three candidates running for mayor of Humboldt.
The Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce hosted a mayoral all-candidates forum on its Facebook page on Oct. 29. Questions were posed by moderator Brent Fitzpatrick to candidates Michael Behiel, Harley Bentley and Lorne Pratchler.
The following are answers from some of the questions asked to the candidates that evening.
Taxes are a major part of the city’s revenue – and a major part of property owner’s expenses. Sell me on the use of the city’s taxes.
Michael Behiel: “There's no denying that in the past there have been some very tough years with very little to show as a result for it,” Behiel said, referring the loss of $477,000 in provincial funding in 2017 – which would have required an 8.2 per cent tax increase to make up. The increase that year ended up being 6.4 per cent.
Behiel said he’s pleased with the progress made since then, with $4 million of infrastructure and capital purchases being made this year.
“If I get elected, it's going to be my goal to expand these actions while still maintaining a low property tax increase, to return as much of the citizens as we can who have paid dearly for the last several years. The businesses are well.”
Harley Bentley: Bentley said property taxes, in particular for businesses, have become a heavier burden in the past few years.
“Although the city relies on these taxes, they must be in line with the current economy for business sustainability. We do not want to see business departures due to overtaxation.”
He said it is ultimately the city's responsibility to those businesses to have efficient fiscal management, budgeting to reflect the current economy and potential growth, as well as working together with businesses on tax transparency and finding relief for those businesses hit hard by property assessment changes.
Lorne Pratchler: Pratchler said that while basing taxes on property values probably isn’t the most fair way to tax (cities are allowed to collect property taxes, but are restricted over what else they can tax), without those taxes, the city wouldn't be enjoying the facilities and the services it has today.
“The good news from the City of Humboldt side is that we've been able to move the municipal tax rate from second highest of all the cities in the province of Saskatchewan in 2016 to at least down into the middle of that group. I know the discussion that's been had at council level was that we want to continue to lower that in the future.”
What is the one skill that you don't think anybody else has that is running against you that would make you a better mayor?
Harley Bentley: “I'm a hands-on person. I have nearly done everything that the city does when they're building infrastructure, or commercial and residential property, or sidewalks.”
He added he was a contractor in the past and he sees that experience as useful to making good decisions on improving the city’s infrastructure.
Lorne Pratchler: “I would say that the skill that I bring is one of being a good listener, and you're only a good listener if you can ask good questions. I find that in conversations when people start talking about an issue, and you ask the right questions, that a lot of solutions come out of that dialogue in that discussion.”
Michael Behiel: “From my perspective, my financial knowledge and accountability with accounting is probably the best [skill] because I look forward to seeing concepts, but at the same time, I like to see the financial reality of those things and [determine] whether it's in the best interest in city to move forward with that or to table it for later purposes.”
While you've been out on the campaign trail, what's the most important thing that you're hearing?
Michael Behiel: “I've certainly heard a lot about the flood water mitigation. I've heard a lot of concerns about our community being a safe place to live and some of the issues, that they see an increase in crime. I hear a lot about mental health issues. There is an endless amount of things [that are] concerns. Amazingly enough, one of the few things I haven't heard is about property taxes.”
Harley Bentley: Bentley said the lack of communication from the city to its residents is the biggest issue he’s hearing about.
“The most communication that they get from the city – that is what I've been told – is their water bills, which include infrastructure levies, and all sorts of other hidden little taxes, and the taxes – they get that bill too.”
He added he’s hearing that while taxes are going up, the roads in front of their house aren't improving.
Lorne Pratchler: “When I've been talking to people, and you go to different areas of the city, and you'll hear localized issues. You'll hear about the flooding, you'll hear other little things, but there's no one broad issue that seems to keep coming up for residents.”
He added his conversations have ended on a positive note, with compliments on Centennial Park and Seventh Street work.
The community is currently looking at erecting a permanent memorial for the Humboldt Broncos. What do you think that memorial should say about our city to the rest of the world?
Lorne Pratchler: Pratchler said it is going to be very important to have a permanent building so that the city can display all the many gifts and gestures of goodwill that people sent us over those days. He added that will be a form of healing for the city.
“What we want to do is create a place here that will welcome those who need that healing and want to visit it and it's going to make a difference for who we are by doing that.”
Michael Behiel: Behiel said there was much compassion and importing of support from outside the world.
“I think our memorial needs to display all of those feelings of compassion and understanding that we represent on an ongoing basis.”
“It has to be a place of healing, a place of respect and a place of understanding in the city that we can use for all future purposes to display that actual incident and its ongoing memories.”
Harley Bentley: Bentley said he wanted to get suggestions from the public before the city commits to going ahead and building something.
“It's important for people to be able to grieve and it's important for the healing to be put it to rest, in a sense of manner. by building a memorial, it's finalizing a spot where we can go to remember these victims of this tragedy.”
