Tale of two Cities
I was in Calgary last week for the first time in about five years and was astounded by the physical growth of the city. The weather conditions as I flew in were clear enough to see the full scope of urban sprawl from the air. Wow, talk about fast track growth.
Like here in Toronto, the Calgary city council is in full throws of putting together a 2012 budget, but the tone is so different and so are the numbers. Calgary council has decided under the leadership of Mayor Naheed Nenshi to change the budget process. The Council has adopted a three year business plan and budget process, which in my view makes a lot of sense for more than a couple of reasons. First, it forces municipal leaders to focus on a longer range vision for the city than just the next 12 months. Secondly, It provides private sector stakeholders and property owners with some commitment and certainty about tax rates and investment plans. And thirdly, It prevents the annual distraction of political infighting among councilors that intensifies the vendettas every year about 3 months before the next budget session.
Now, there is nothing wrong with spirited debates or the ideological defense and presentation of view points, but it becomes tiresome and unproductive when it is the primary sound track of city hall year after year. In Calgary’s case, ( although the 3 year business plan and budget process provides for annual adjustments if required), the primary ideological debate and differences will be aired once per term and before the next election.
Calgary and Toronto of course have very separate challenges. Calgary’s financial situation is good. Toronto’s is not. Calgary is growing at an abnormally rapid pace so is more likely to require 3 year planning phases than Toronto which has to trim its budget by hundreds of millions but there is something smart about a 3 year budget plan instead of the anual bun fight that takes place in Toronto.
Like most governments, the Ford administration has a very narrow window of opportunity to do ( for better or for worst ) what it claims it was elected to do. That window is right now – the first couple of months in year two of a four year term and maybe the first few months of year three. After that, it’s all about getting re-elected.