It has been said that a good compromise is when no one at the negotiating table is fully satisfied.
Makes sense, because a true compromise means everyone had to give a little to get back in return.
This doesn’t necessarily mean they’re unhappy or forced to sacrifice, simply that they accepted “their way or the highway” does not fly in democracy and that concessions must be made in order to reach consensus.
If everyone stubbornly holds his or her ground unwilling to budge, progress is made at about the same pace of continental drift, and drawing out the process results in lost time and adds to the cost.
Council last week following a lengthy discussion on setting this year’s tax rate could not reach a compromise, with one holdout forcing the final decision over to a special meeting that was unplanned and unbudgeted.
During the fall workshop council had planned expecting around a 2.8 per cent increase to the tax rate — the level of inflation as calculated by the Bank of Canada. Administration managed to find some wiggle room and presented a budget that called for a 2.25 per cent increase.
Perhaps not surprisingly, a discussion ensued on whether to direct staff to further sharpen their pencils to find more efficiencies to accommodate a reduction to a 1.25 per cent increase.
Following the back and forth conversation that presented valid positions on either side, a motion to proceed with a two per cent tax increase was defeated by a single vote.
Even Mayor Terry Leslie, usually the first to champion “holding the line” on taxes and who wanted to see the increase go up less than two per cent, was willing to meet his colleagues in the middle.
But Coun. Paul Isaac held out, forcing a final decision in a special meeting this week, which will come at the cost of keeping staff around as well as the per diem members of council receive.
Sort of ironic, considering the fact that the point of the whole ordeal was to save taxpayers’ dollars.
— Ducatel is the Round Up’s editor
