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Calgary Herald
5 hours ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Council rejects 'formality' motion to reaffirm next year's property tax increase
Calgary city councillors couldn't find consensus Tuesday on whether to reaffirm their previous commitment to keep next year's property tax hike at 3.6 per cent. Article content But according to two members of council, the failed motion was mostly a formality, as well as an exercise in budget transparency. Article content Article content When approving the 2023-26 budget in November 2022, council supported a 3.6 per cent property tax increase for 2026, the final year of the four-year budget cycle. Article content Article content Those supportive of the motion from Ward 11 representative Kourtney Penner included Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Couns. Raj Dhaliwal, Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian, Peter Demong and Courtney Walcott. Article content 'Calgarians want steadiness. They want consistency and they want some predictability,' Penner said, when moving the recommendation. Article content Article content Those in opposition to the motion argued that although budget transparency ahead of November is important, it's premature to promise Calgarians in June what type of tax increase they will see the following year. Article content Article content Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp, who voted in opposition alongside Couns. Dan McLean, Gian-Carlo Carra, Jennifer Wyness, Terry Wong, Sean Chu and Andre Chabot, said after the meeting she felt the vote was a formality. Article content Article content 'The direction didn't lose,' she said. 'Administration was already given that direction in 2022.' Article content Sharp and others, including Chabot, also disagreed with the 3.6 per cent figure, pointing out it didn't factor in a motion from Ward 12 Coun. Evan Spencer, which was approved by council last week, to develop an Infrastructure Reinvestment Program. The motion included several considerations to address the city's worsening backlog of deferred maintenance during the 2027-30 budget cycle.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Voters return to the polls today for general election
TUPELO — Voters will return to the polls today for the final municipal election of the year, with two of Tupelo's seven seats still up for grabs. The polls are open today from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents from Ward 3 and Ward 5 have their chance to decide who will represent their area for the next four years. In Ward 3, incumbent Republican Travis Beard, a retired teacher, will face Democrat Shirley Hendrix, owner of R&B Specialty Printing. Beard is running for a third full term. Neither opponent had challengers during the April 1 primary elections, which secured their seats without need for voting. In Ward 5, Democrat Candria Lewis and Republican Bentley Nolan both hope to take the seat left vacant when incumbent Republican Councilman Buddy Palmer, who decided not to run for reelection, leaves the council in July. While Nolan defeated two Republican opponents in the primary and subsequent runoff election, Lewis had no primary opposition. Whomever claims the reins for Ward 3 and Ward 5 will join the other candidates who either won in the primary election or ran unopposed. They include Republican Ward 1 Councilman Chad Mims, Republican Ward 2 Councilman Lynn Bryan, Democrat Ward 4 Councilwoman Nettie Davis, Republican Ward 6 Councilwoman Janet Gaston, Democrat Ward 7 Councilwoman Rosie Jones and Republican Mayor Todd Jordan. New terms will begin July 1, giving Palmer one more month as part of the council before becoming councilman emeritus.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Something to prove': New city leadership sworn in during May 28 Panama City inauguration
PANAMA CITY— The rotunda of city hall was packed to the brim with suits, ties and collared shirts on May 28 as community and state leaders rubbed elbows and city staff prepared the festivities. Panama City hosted its inauguration for the incoming mayor and city commissioner while welcoming a familiar face back to the table. Commissioners Brian Grainger and Janice Lucas reunited with returning Ward 4 Commissioner Josh Street and celebrated their new co-workers, Mayor Allan Branch and Ward 1 Commissioner Robbie Hughes. There was a lengthy invocation followed by The Pledge of Allegiance, after which a city staffer moved the event along with a wooden gavel. Hughes was the first invited to the front to take his oath of office, after which he took to the podium to make his remarks. He started by commending his campaign team and family, kicking the speech off with a comedic tone and gathering some laughs from the crowd. The new commissioner thanked everyone for sticking by him through what some Panama City readers may recall as a somewhat contentious election season, before continuing on to the value of service in his new position. "It fills a hole in my soul to be able to come and help somebody else with no expectation of anything in return," Hughes said. "I'm working for you, I need to make every decision and think about how it affects you, how it affects the people of Panama City, because every vote affects people." He leaned into his business background and how he wants to take what he has learned there and apply it to city government. Hughes said he was not a politician, which Branch later corrected in a comedic tone. "Every time you lay your head on the pillow, just know that I've done everything I can possible in working with this team and seeing all the staff to make the quality of life better in Panama City," Hughes said. "I thank you for your time, I thank you for your vote, and I thank you for your support. And hopefully in the future we're going to see some really good progress." Next up was Street, whose speech had a more serious tone of community resilience. "Standing here today is one of the greatest honors of my life, and I do so knowing the difficult job that we have and the difficult job ahead, but this moment isn't about me," Street said. "It is about a collective unity amongst all of us as citizens of the United states and citizens of the city of Panama City." He then covered some of life in the city over the past several years and its affects on the community. "We belong to a community that refuses to quit, a city that keeps getting back up through tornadoes, floods and hurricanes," Street said. "We've proven that tomorrow can be better than today, and we're willing to do the hard work to make it so." Street then told an anecdote about talking to his St Andrews neighbor whose house had been severely damaged by tornadoes. "What stayed with me most wasn't what was broken in that moment, it's (that) what couldn't be shaken was hope," he said. "She looked me in the eye and said 'we'll be fine, God's brought us through worse." Street talked about his dedication to residents of the community, his faith, and reiterated the resilience he believes Panama City to have. Last but not least was the new mayor, Allan Branch. After his oath of office he ditched the podium to move around the room and make gestures toward the crowd. Branch's speech was jovial in nature yet touched on the progress he believes he has seen in the city. "You can love something and acknowledge that there's challenges and hurdles and there's flaws in it," Branch said. "Since Hurricane Michael, my goodness, we've come so far, the progress we've made, we've challenged ourselves." Branch said that he would like to see the progress they've seen made in one part of the city, presumably downtown, to spread out to other areas of the city. He talk about how the common trait he's seen in accomplished people that he admires is their desire for feedback and their relentlessness. Branch would like to see the city emulate these qualities. "Being relentless usually comes from having something to prove," Branch said. "I have something to prove, and I think the city of Panama City has something to prove, not just to other cities, not just to the doubters, but to ourselves." Branch went on to talk about his past experiences growing up and his family's prominent role in the local business scene. He later moved on to talking about a plaque that all mayors get and what he wanted it to say. "You are a part of what makes this town special, a neighbor, a teacher, a business owner, a builder, a dreamer," Branch said. "You do not need a title like mayor or commissioner to shape this town. Help someone who needs it, speak up even with a shaky voice. Real change does not wait for permission, it starts with people like you, and that's how a city becomes a community." After a long prayer, attendees then moved on to snapping photos and enjoying some catered snacks. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: New Panama City mayor calls for feedback, relentlessness at inauguration
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Waynesboro leadership changes follow death of long-time mayor
A new mayor and Waynesboro Borough Council member were sworn in May 27. The leadership changes follow the death of long-time Mayor Richard Starliper on May 16. Dade Royer is the new mayor, and Todd Blake replaces him as Ward 1 councilman. Both men were candidates for those positions in the May 20 primary, which came just days after Starliper passed away. Their appointments at the special council meeting on May 27 run through the end of this year. They also are the presumptive winners of the November general election to continue to serve in terms that will begin in 2026. Both received the Republican nominations for the seats in the primary election in which there were no Democratic candidates. A community loss: Waynesboro's 'Mayor Dick' passes away It's been a bittersweet week and a half for Royer, with Starliper passing away at age 87 just days before he won the primary election. 'I will greatly miss him,' said Royer, who called Starliper a friend and mentor. Starliper had been mayor since Jan. 2, 2006. He served on borough council from Jan. 16, 1980, to Jan. 4, 1988, and again from Jan. 2, 1995, to Jan. 7, 2002. 'Mayor Starliper, affectionately known as 'Dick' to many in the community, was a dedicated public servant whose leadership, integrity and compassion helped to shape the rejuvenation of our community,' said a statement from the borough announcing his death. Royer was sworn in by Starliper seven years ago when he filled the Ward 1 council seat vacancy. At the meeting, Royer resigned from his council seat and was appointed mayor, Blake was named to the council seat, then both men were sworn in by Franklin County Judge Mary Beth Shank. Councilman Michael Cermak was elected to replace Royer as vice president. 'I'll always do my best to serve the citizens of Waynesboro,' said Royer, who also thanked council members for their confidence in him and voters, both Republicans and Democrats, who voted for him in the primary election. On the Republican ticket, he received 513 votes – 82% – to outpoll Douglas Carranza, who got 110 votes. Royer also got 87% of the Democratic write-ins, so his name will be listed on the ballot as a candidate for both parties in November. 'I'm happy to be here and ready to work,' said Blake, who also serves on the borough authority, which oversees the water and sewer systems. In the primary election, Blake defeated Janeen McChesney 119-to-76 on the Republican ticket to advance to the general election for the Ward 1 seat. Other candidates for borough council seats moving forward after the primary are Brandon Boldyga, who defeated Ascohi Helman 123-to-42 in Ward 2 and Randy Schriver, who was the only candidate in Ward 3. Both are Republicans and no Democrats ran for the seats. This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: New Waynesboro mayor, councilman sworn in
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Results are in: Panama City, Lynn Haven voters decide runoff races for city commissions
PANAMA CITY ― Two close-fought races were decided Tuesday in runoff elections stemming from the 2025 municipal elections in Bay County. According to unofficial results listed on the Bay County Supervisor of Elections website, Robbie Hughes beat Daniel Schultz for Ward 1 on the Panama City commission, and Judy Tinder beat Jeff Snyder for Seat 4 in Lynn Haven. Both races went down to the wire. Hughes had 849 votes, or about 51%, to Schultz's 810 votes, or almost 49%. Tinder secured 1,155 votes, or about 51%, while Snyder took 1,088 votes, or about 49%. The races required runoffs after no candidate won at least 50% plus one of the votes in the 2025 municipal election in Bay County on April 22. The Supervisor of Elections' website says 3,906 Bay County residents cast ballots in the runoff elections. This was made up of 2,570 Republicans, 865 Democrats, 405 voters not affiliated with either party and 67 voters categorized as "other." Of those voters, 1,891 voted early, 1,192 voted on runoff election day and 823 voted by mail. One provisional ballot also was cast. There were two local voting sites for the 2025 runoff elections: Panama City City Hall at 501 Harrison Ave. and the Lynn Haven Senior Center at 905 Pennsylvania Ave. On election day, 788 people voted at Panama City City Hall, and 1,104 people voted at the Lynn Haven Senior Center. Panama City's election day ballots were split between 517 Republicans, 162 Democrats, 93 voters not affiliated with either party and 16 voters categorized as "other." Lynn Haven's election day ballots were split between 824 Republicans, 170 Democrats, 93 voters note affiliated with either party and 17 voters categorized as "other." Original results: Who won? Which races are headed to runoffs? Municipal election results in Bay County Of those who voted early, 1,341 were Republicans, 332 were Democrats, 185 were not affiliated with either party and 33 were categorized as "other." Of those who voted by mail, 413 were Republicans, 296 were Democrats, 102 were not affiliated with either party and 12 were categorized as "other." For more information on the elections, visit This article originally appeared on The News Herald: See who won runoff runoff elections in Panama City and Lynn Haven
