What can Pelham expect in the new year regional council when it considers moving towards amalgamation?

Pelham is one of twelve municipalities in the Niagara Region. We are on the smaller end of the twelve when you look at population or assessment value. It will be likely that representation in a new amalgamated government will be by population, maybe with an assessment qualifier.  

Representation will be weighted towards population and/or assessments values. 

A Pelham Mayor or Councilors loud voice may be heard but will likely not hold much sway. Pelham is a mouse amongst elephants in this game. St Catharine's, Niagara Falls, Welland are the population centres. Include N-O-T-L and Grimsby if assessment value plays a role in representation. I am not being negative on Pelham - I am being realistic where any form of amalgamation will take us.

All of the Pelham candidates for office need to offer up more than just a loud voice - especially the Mayoral candidates. They need to be thinking tactics and strategy for how to keep the uniqueness Pelham has.

Uniqueness needs to be identified and described for it to be protected.

The Mayor and Councilors need to articulate what they consider unique about Pelham and how they will help retain it in the future.    To be able to fight for it they need to be able to define it!

Our Mayoral candidates need to articulate their ideas on:

* What makes Pelham unique.

* What tactics and strategy do they propose for how to keep the uniqueness Pelham has.

* Communicate this to residents well in advance of the October 26 vote.  This is an election issue.

The Positive Economics of Amalgamation 

The general idea is the elimination of duplicate structures providing government services.   In the Niagara region currently we have 12 mayors, 12 sets of counsellors, 12 CAO's, 12 planning directors, 12 fire marshals, 12 public works directors, etc.   There are millions of dollars that can be eliminated in Pelham and other municipalities. 

You can consolidate entire service departments like water/sewer billings, accounts payable, clerk’s department, legal, planning and so on. These tasks would still need to be done so there will be some increased costs in a central office somewhere - but the efficiencies of scale will come into play and money will be saved.  What often happens unfortunately is you will see a reduction of personalized or tailored service to the area you live. Generally, the money saved outweighs a lessor quality of service.

Let’s take a look at how Pelham compares to the other eleven municipalities.

Population

Pelham is ranked 10 in population size. This is the Region's third smallest municipally.

Assessment

Pelham is ranked 9th in assessment dollars.  Fourth smallest municipality based upon total value of property.

Candidates have stated they should be elected so they can represent Pelham's uniqueness at the Region level. 

I moved back to Niagara and specifically Fonthill as I wanted a small-town atmosphere surrounded by rural farms, wineries and blossoming fruit trees.   Mature, quiet,  roads, colourful autumns and short winters.  Wanted away from the concrete and pavement of the GTA and its ever-expanding influence.    I have seen growth, for growth's sake, destroy the character of a town.   

Growth will be pushed upon us by the Province.  The best we can do is define the values and uniqueness we want to promote and govern the growth in Pelham accordingly.

Summerfest is a great community event to be kept.  The MCC is a gathering place for the community to be improved and protected.  The bandshell should be expanded and other performing arts encouraged.

If we want to keep these:

• We need to deal with ever increasing traffic on our once quiet roads.   Road improvements to allow residents to efficiently access the 406.  Be able to move traffic through or around the villages safely and quickly.
• We need to deal with development that seems to only add more homes, higher density, traffic, and retention ponds.   This calls for a master plan, which development respects, relating to trails, parkland, recreation areas and traffic.
• We need property taxation rates,  service levels and programs that benefit the breadth of the municipality.  Taxation rates need to reflect requirements and not necessarily desires.   Sometimes that will mean we do not act when the interest is narrow and expensive.

• We need to represent the interests of Pelham residents and not just the Province pushing growth via building more homes without the traffic infrastructure support.   Pelham needs assistance from the Provincial or Regional  government for help in improving the worsening traffic situation.
• We need to support local agriculture.   A better designed infrastructure for a farmers’ market to bring local growers and consumers together.    Make the structure versatile enough to support other activities like crafts, flea markets, street performers and artists. 

Residential Tax Rates compared

Pelham is ranked ranked 5 in lowest overall property tax rates for the Region (combined Town and Region). The Region weighted average is shown in red on the following graph. Pelham is just a little bit better than the Region average.

This is important in that it illustrates that there is not much risk to the Pelham tax rate increasing under Amalgamation.   If you put everyone into the same pool of funding the lower tax municipalities will rise in rate and the higher tax municipalities should lower.   Pelham is pretty much there right now - our overall rate is rather average.  Don't buy into scare tactics that Pelham rates will rise dramatically.  Quality of services and responsiveness from a revised municipality and region will be the issues for Pelham.

Region Property Tax Estimator