“Where to start?” asks former councillor

June 4, 2015 · 0 Comments

With great pomp and hope from those who voted for him, Mr. Dawe swept into power as mayor of Aurora and even got re-elected.
When he first ran, he promised to get Council’s hands out of the Aurora residents’ pockets. Five years later, and five tax increases later, each increase of approximately 4%, our taxes are higher than ever.
In my opinion, Dawe has done nothing to try and reduce our tax burden. He has not looked at where he could cut taxes, such as staff reduction, expense reduction or even common sense reductions.
Again, in my opinion, the Aurora department managers give their wish list to Council, with every possible addition, knowing that there will be cut backs.
Council then eliminates certain items to get the increase in taxes down from 6% or so to 4%. Every year, tax increases are done the same way. It would be great for departments to look at themselves and look to eliminate rather than add.
In private business there are cut backs so that the businesses can survive. Not so in government, as it is not their money that they are spending.
Then, there is the over spending of a couple of major projects that were approved. A new public works facility, which to me was not required, is underway. It was bad enough the original cost but each year the costs go up and up and this project is now millions of dollars over budget.
To top of the wasted spending is the renovations of the Aurora Family Leisure Complex on Industrial Parkway. This facility was also over-budget and did not meet the needs of the community.
Again, in my opinion, a total waste of taxpayers’ dollars from a mayor that promised not to put Council’s hands further into your pockets.
Dawe also promised to help increase business opportunities in Aurora and to work to get more companies to move to Aurora. Too bad that this did not translate into keeping businesses in Aurora that are currently here.
Wow, Magna is pulling out the amazing headquarters on Wellington to go to King City, the headquarters mayors of the past bragged about. West, Jones and Phyllis Morris all praised the Magna headquarters. What did Dawe do to keep this company in Aurora? I guess not enough? Up to 400 jobs lost. Hallmark is also gone, 215,000 square feet of space.
What a legacy Mr Dawe will be leaving? I never thought that I would say this but we truly needed Evelyn Buck on this council to object to the waste of money. Instead we have a Council, that in my opinion seem to want to keep Dawe happy by voting yes rather than working for you, the residents of Aurora.

Nigel Kean
Aurora

(Editor’s Note: Mr. Kean faced off against Mr. Dawe in Aurora’s 2010 five-person Mayoral race)