Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261012-sudbury-ward-natalie-tessier-on Sudbury property taxes are high — but Ward 8 candidate Natalie Tessier says the issue is not just City Hall spending. She argues that part of the pressure comes from higher levels of government pushing responsibilities and infrastructure costs down onto municipalities without enough funding following them. During the interview, Tessier points to provincial funding formulas she believes leave Greater Sudbury carrying too much of the burden. The host describes this as a form of **“stealth downloading”** — the responsibility moves downward, but taxpayers still end up paying for it through municipal taxes. Infrastructure is a major example. Greater Sudbury has aging roads, water and sewer systems, while heavy mining and industrial traffic also puts added pressure on local infrastructure. Tessier says Sudbury needs to push the province harder for a fairer share of infrastructure funding and argues that Northern communities producing critical minerals should not be left struggling to pay for the roads and services that help support that economy. At the same time, she says City Council still has a responsibility to scrutinize every budget, ask difficult questions and make sure residents are getting real value for their tax dollars. That leaves a fair question for taxpayers: **Who is running this place — and is everyone treating the public purse like it has no bottom?** Before another tax increase lands on residents, taxpayers deserve to know whether City Hall is spending wisely and whether the province and federal government are paying their fair share. #Sudbury #NatalieTessier #Ward8 #PropertyTaxes #TaxpayerDollars #Infrastructure #CityHall #NorthernOntario #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth