Grand River Transit

[MidTowner]

Fare increases have outpaced property tax increases, but it is not fair to say that the Region kowtows to ratepayers who might believe that taxes should never increase above the rate of inflation. I personally think the the fare increases have been unacceptable and don't think they serve the transit goals the Region has, but we should put credit where credit is due and acknowledge that Regional leadership has chosen to increase tax rates to make strategic investments. Not all of our municipal neighbours do that- influential Londoners routinely call for "tax freezes," and politicians routinely acquiesce. Their previous mayor won on a platform of four years of tax freezes, short-sighted at best.

Anyway, I expect that the Region will be able to successfully blame the GRT's revenue shortfall on construction, and most people will be satisfied with that and service cuts won't be necessary.