Fog Blog Ridiculog:

SAINT JOHN IS AN OUTSTANDING CITY TO LIVE IN, BACKGROUND , CULTURE, SCENERY AND OPPORTUNITY , BUT A VERY EXPENSIVE CITY TO LIVE IN! Where do I start so that this is not a runaway! First off with it being March, those who have to pay a water bill will be in sticker shock! For those who see this and don't know....Saint John does not have water meters. This was discussed at council,

nothing ventured yet. Most water bills will be over $1300.00 for the year with a whopping 600 of that due early April. Years ago Saint Johners pleaded with the city to lower these rates, they sided with an agreement with Irving over water supply and rates regarding the pulp and paper operations. This ended up badly for residents. The new tax assessment and bill has come in for NB and the residents are livid ! Some people are going to pay 40% more , the average is about 20%! Now there is a paper in the assessment that offers the opportunity to argue for a new assessment but its a process that will take time. Power rates are up! There are rebate programs that offer a little relief but paper work has to be filed, some of these processes take time. One thing I can tell you is...when I moved back here in the year 2000, I got a refund back on rent paid in Ontario that gave you $500 dollars or so to look forward to but here unless its changed no such incentive here, just high rent. Someone I know for an open concept small apt. with bathroom is paying $600. per month albeit heat paid and my girlfriend in the North End , the apt. is nice and heat paid, not all that big though is paying around $750. and that could go up!! I think there should be more incentives for low income and senior residents in this province. I will say the GST and HST combined credit is nice albeit only once every 4 months! With the high cost of living we may be faced with falling off the Ridiculog right into the poor house!