I am a taxpayer, just like you. We should be able to see what our taxes pay for and whether Town Hall is achieving the results that residents expect.
Port Hope’s current Strategic Plan calls for departmental work plans, budgets and performance measures to be developed through 2028, with progress reported publicly. That is a useful start.
As Mayor, I will immediately propose a clear annual municipal performance report. The proposed report would begin with key services for which reliable information is available and expand as the Municipality’s performance measures improve. These measures would reflect what Port Hope families experience in their daily lives for their tax dollars. Water and sewer service to their homes. Road services for getting around. Policing service for community safety. Recreation services for healthy children and adults. Measures might include road conditions, winter maintenance, building permit times, water interruptions, police response time, infrastructure projects completed on time and within budget, and municipal administrative costs.
Council would determine the exact measures based on staff recommendations. They should be useful and understandable for families and, wherever possible, based on information the Municipality already collects. If approved, the report would be posted on the Open Port Hope page of the municipal website, where residents could find annual results and municipal information important to them, all in one place.
Accountability also includes Port Hope’s share of Northumberland County taxes and services, such as garbage collection, County roads, affordable housing, paramedic services, long-term care, and homelessness services. The Mayor represents Port Hope at County Council. As part of the annual report, I would summarize the key positions I took, the votes I cast, and the actions I pursued on behalf of Port Hope residents.
These are your taxes and mine. Residents should know what their money supports and what results are achieved. When residents, Council, and staff work hard towards a common purpose, we can achieve great results and strengthen the beautiful, vibrant community we call home.
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