Tax Increases and Wasteful Spending: Time for Accountability in Pickering

Tax Increases and Wasteful Spending: Time for Accountability in Pickering By Councillor Lisa Robinson As a city councillor and, more importantly, a concerned citizen, I find myself deeply troubled by the ongoing trend of excessive tax increases and wasteful spending that continues to burden the residents of Pickering. In 2025, our community faces a 3.75% municipal property tax increase, while Durham Region is imposing a staggering 5.8% hike in the regional levy. These increases are three times the current inflation rate, which hovers around 2%, placing an undue financial burden on taxpayers. But here’s the kicker: while residents are struggling with these higher taxes, our local government continues to pour taxpayer money into initiatives that lack measurable outcomes. Take, for example, the Hannover Messe 2025, an international trade fair in Germany where the Mayor and City staff traveled to represent Pickering at a significant cost to taxpayers. Thousands of dollars were spent on booths, travel, and accommodations, all in the name of “economic development.” But where are the results for Pickering residents? There’s little tangible evidence that these expensive ventures lead to real, local jobs, business growth, or direct benefits for our city. It’s frustrating to see so much public money spent with little to no return for those who are paying the bill. Unfortunately, the issue doesn’t stop there. Over the years, we have seen a troubling pattern of wasteful spending on consultants. In many cases, these consultants deliver work that is incomplete, poorly executed, or outright ineffective, only to see the city hire the same firms again, leading to costly rework and delays. This is money that could be better spent on improving our roads, supporting local businesses, or addressing the serious infrastructure needs in our community. If consultants are consistently failing to deliver quality work, then why are we paying them over and over? Why should taxpayers foot the bill for these failures? This pattern of mismanagement is compounded by a broader trend of poor project execution. We’ve seen initiatives that were started, only to be scrapped or redone because the original planning and execution were flawed. It’s not only wasteful but also demoralizing for taxpayers who are left footing the bill for government failures. As a city councillor, I believe it’s my responsibility to hold our local government accountable to the people. But, as a citizen, I share the growing frustration that many residents feel. It’s time for transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer money. We cannot continue down this path of wasteful spending while residents are being asked to pay more, year after year, without seeing any tangible benefits in return. We need to refocus our priorities on what truly matters to the people of Pickering — better services, stronger infrastructure, and a more transparent and accountable local government. This needs to stop. Enough is Enough It’s time to hold our elected officials accountable for their spending, their decisions, and the impact those decisions have on all of us. If we don’t demand change, then we risk continuing this cycle of mismanagement that will ultimately harm our city in the long run. I am Councillor Lisa Robinson, “The People’s Councillor” Watch for my column each week in The Central..