Lethbridge Public Finances: Is City Hall Gouging Our Citizens? (Part 1)

For many years, local residents have benefited from critical comments on the City of Lethbridge’s management of public finances by retired lawyer, Robert Babki. According to Babki, by year-end Dec. 31, 2007, City of Lethbridge officials have stated that the City has invested funds on hand of approximately $150 million, holdings that have increased dramatically over the decade. The City derives its funds from various levels of government, but most of it comes from City residents through property taxes and various fees and charges. Many citizens feel that the take by the City is excessive. Robert Babki will present some analysis and review of the records from the perspective of citizens. He is a critic of what he believes is an unhealthy failure of City Council to keep citizens informed, and to temper an insatiable demand for revenue from an expanding City administration. Speaker: Robert Babki Robert Babki was born and raised in Lethbridge, earning his law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and practiced law in Lethbridge (including Supreme Court of Canada appearances) from 1969 to his retirement in 1994. Active with several athletic and community organizations, he was Chairman of the Board of the Lethbridge Community College and politically involved by serving as the Southern Alberta Regional Director of the Alberta PC Association Executive in the 1970’s.