Sir: Twas the night before Christmas
When all thru municipal hall
Many creatures were stirring, council members and all
Their stockings were hung beside the Mayor with care
Hoping the Integrity Commissioner will never be there
The councillors were nestled all snug in their seat
While visions of grandeur kept pace with their beat
The Mayor in his robe and councillors with their briefs
Keep voting each year for no tax reliefs
When out of the audience many arose with a hoop, and a holler
Rightfully blaming council for spending every tax dollar
Administration responding to the clatter,
All wondered just what was the matter
The audience demanded an account of their cash
Just then council opened the doors and took off in a flash
Administration, while climbing the wall
Kept shouting to council…. Dash Away! Dash Away! Dash Away All!
The softened debt in the newly released report
Gave the impression all is well, an easy-to-manage Chatham-Kent Fort
Then, to the taxpayers’ wondering eyes should appear
But another tax hike soon to be here.
Councillors keep spending, increasing our debt
All the while wondering, what happened to Chatham-Kent?
With a tempered administration, watching so near
I knew in a moment there was no reason to cheer
More rapid than eagles they came with excuses and pride
To instruct council not to worry, be quiet and enjoy the ride
As administration whistled and shouted ever so bold
As they whistled and shouted – do as your told
As they only tell council what they want them to hear
Don’t worry, it’s just another year
As administration whistled and shouted and called each by name
As council responded, who is to blame?
The Mayor, the CEO, who is one in the same
As some council members work hard and try
They can only get information through an F.O.I.
Out-of-control municipal spending continues to spiral
Council’s decisions tend to go viral
So back to the taxpayers councillors return
Like skyrocketing coursers council never seems to learn
With our money being spent so quickly and free
It’s literally a $300M shopping spree.
And then in a twinkling, I heard from the top
Council decided, we’re not going to stop
As council continues the trend
Down the chimney they come, let’s … Spend! Spend! Spend!
Council all dressed, fit to kill
On their medication, the “spending pill”
Their clothes a bit tarnished but with pockets of pride
Still supporting the “spending tide”
Councils eyes as they twinkled! There mindset so merry
All keep saying, we’re fine – the public still weary
As their little mouths shimmer and our economy grows dimmer
The look in their eyes to no one’s surprise
A forewarning of Chatham-Kent’s, financial demise
As taxpayers continue to complain
Many feel it is only in vain
Cost-saving measures seem to be placed on the shelf
Council and administration seem to do this, in spite of themself
A wink of their eye and a twist of their head
Soon told me we have everything to dread
As council and administration continue to do what they choose
As Chatham-Kent and its high taxes make headline news
Taxpayers attempt to show council the way
Councillors continue to dart away in their sleigh
But I heard council exclaim, as they drove out of sight.
“Don’t count on us! We don’t know if we’re right!”
John Cryderman
Chatham
