Winter Walking and Cycling

[robdrimmie]

I think the complications aren't in the implementation of the plan, but in the politics. Any changes to how money is allocated, or anything that increases taxes, is immediately met with very vocal complaint.

I can imagine all the "snowflake" jokes now.

I think you mean “anything that appears to increase taxes”, since the total city-imposed burden on a property will go down in the event the city takes over sidewalk clearing.

Not that I’m necessarily against increasing taxes (what’s the money going to be used for?), but in this case the proposal is to reduce the total amount of money/effort expended by taxpayers satisfying their obligations to the city, so “taxes bad” isn’t even a valid argument, unless it is presented in favour of sidewalk clearing by the city.

I completely agree with your rephrasing, but I don't understand the math that results in a reduced burden. This is because I am ignorant, not because I disagree.

Is it because the burden of having to acquire snow-clearing materials is more than the $26 it would add to the annual taxes, or would the annual tax bills themselves decrease in value?