Comment 61786

By A Smith (anonymous) | Posted March 31, 2011 at 12:55:46 in reply to Comment 61780

From 2001-05, city expenditures in Hamilton went up by 19.83%. In that same period of time, the average Ontario wage went up by 19.37%.

Between 2005-09, Hamilton's population grew 5.8%.

From 2005-09, city expenditures went up by 45.7%, while the average Ontario wage gains were only 10.6%.

What do you think Hamilton's population growth was between 2005-09? More or less than 2001-05? In other words, did the extra government spending make more people want to move here, or less?

Here's the answer...

Between 2005-09 Hamilton's population grew from 518,745 to 525,697, an increase of 1.3%.

WTF?

So, when city expenditures went up by 45.7% from 2005-09, Hamilton's population increased only 1.3%.

Yet, when city spending grew at only 19.83%, in line with the wages of taxpayers, Hamilton's population increased by 5.8%, 346% faster.

It would appear that smaller government is the way to go, if the goal is to attract more residents to Hamilton.

Permalink | Context

Events Calendar

There are no upcoming events right now.
Why not post one?

Recent Articles

Article Archives

Blog Archives

Site Tools

Feeds