Amalgamation streamlining a myth

Re: Article “Staff has increased by 327 since 2001: report,” which appeared in the Dec. 17 edition of Northern Life.

While many explanations abound either pro or con about this huge increase in staff levels, can anyone enlighten me on this puzzle?

The reason that many taxpayers in the outlying municipalities supported this divisive move was simply because some were cajoled by the political promise of enormous savings by losing a total of 42 politicians from the payroll, as well as the payroll savings of all the duplicate jobs eliminated in all the outlying municipalities’ city halls, public works, thereby “streamlining a new, more efficient Greater City.” Yeah, sure.

Well, 12 years later, it has become increasingly apparent that the outlying municipalities have been duped by these false promises. They have all suffered a decrease in levels of services while taxes keep going up and up, and round and round it goes.

One thing that we can all agree on is that this dysfunctional council has not served us as well as it could have. Election day is finally upon us this year — please get out and vote.

Simon R. Guillet
Greater Sudbury