City Notebook: A time to unite in good spirits, good company

By Collin Gallant on December 21, 2024.

There’s a certain timelessness and timeliness to Christmas.

Each year there are old friends, annual traditions, time-tested recipes and ancient ornaments that have survived drops, moves and the ravages of time.

But there are also the immediate, the challenges, the pressure we place on ourselves, and emptiness that can appear against a backdrop so full.

We all need a break, but cramming two weeks worth of work into one is always a chore.

Still, tough times make good memories, and small courtesies and actions can have a large impact.

“It is the one day in the year when unselfishness reigns supreme: when the truth of the dictum, ‘It is better to give than to receive’ is fully recognized,” the News editorial writer stated on Dec. 24, 1924. “The spirit of Christmastide exercises its beneficent sway, as it has done for centuries, and mankind is better for it.”

Today, it brings to mind my Grade 3 teacher’s admonitions on a host of other topics: “It’s worth repeating, Mr. Gallant, because some people need reminding.”

Taxes: How it works

As a public service, the News endeavours to explain how a now-set 5.6 per cent tax increase translates into real dollars in the budget.

The 2025 tax revenue is expected to be $89 million, meaning that 1 per cent (move the decimal point) would be $890,000 next year. On the billing side, it’s worth about $25 each to residential taxpayers.

A dashed attempt by Coun. Andy McGrogan called for cuts to bring the increase down to 3.9 per cent, a $1.5-million difference, through budget trims.

Tax revenue however, makes up only a portion of total general revenue ($146 million), so every 1 per cent increase or decrease in spending is worth $1.46 million (see above).

And since the issue compounds, $1.5 million in savings in 2025 needs to be $3 million in 2026 (and $4.5 million in total) for the rate increase to stay at 3.9 per cent.

Non-math issues are more debatable, and Hatters are probably frustrated.

Budget authors have made little of the fact that an updated fall forecast of 11 per cent tax increase was cut in half through before it hit the table via cuts.

Still it’s hard to believe that another $500,000 couldn’t be found to turn a 5.6 per cent hike into 4.9 per cent.

It’s harder still to think that nine council members couldn’t rally around that, or that staff wouldn’t make it happen.

Power age

Okay, I’ll admit it, there’s almost been too much happening on the electricity front for my liking.

A while back (January marks 20 years at the News for me), I made an effort to get informed on the power business. After the crash of natural gas it became the real pillar of city hall and, it turns out, the region as one of few growth sectors.

And here we are on the cusp of a vastly more electrified future, and lots more on this front coming in 2025.

Big news

Revealed Friday is the fact the Medicine Hat Stampede is bringing a large farm and equipment show to the city next June to coincide with the annual chuckwagon races. Expect more news soon, but the trade show is the first in recent memory for the town since the Hat was a stop on travelling petroleum sector expo about a decade ago.

A look ahead

The city’s food waste composting pilot program ends as planned next week, and the News will detail the program’s future in a future edition. Hey, for fun, weigh the vegetable peels from Christmas dinner then multiply by 52 weeks and 25,000 households. It’s a big number.

Otherwise, enjoy your dinner and the holiday. Most official business is on hold till the new year.

100 years ago

A $20,000 fundraising effort would culminate on New Year’s Eve with the opening of the new community rink, the News proclaimed in the lead up to Christmas 1924.

Pleasure skating in carnival dress and a band would inaugurate the facility.

Turkeys, ducks and geese (cleaned and oven ready) were 30 cents per pound at Freedman’s Groceteria. Phone 3438 for free delivery.

A high school reunion was planned for Dec. 29 at Alexandra High School for all classes and all alumni. The association of former grad had become “famous for the pleasant times” of previous events, the News noted.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com.