Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261009-sudbury-ward-rajotte-on-youth Ward 7 candidate David Rajotte says some rural residents are paying substantial property taxes while receiving very limited municipal services. In one example from the interview, Rajotte describes a resident paying about $9,000 a year in property taxes who says the road has no regular snow plowing, no municipal water or sewer, and no garbage pickup at the property. Residents instead have to take their garbage elsewhere for disposal. That raises a basic question: **What exactly are these residents getting for the taxes they pay?** Rajotte says the frustration gets worse when residents try to call 311 for answers. He describes the system as difficult to navigate and says getting through to the right person can be a challenge. In the example he discussed, he eventually received a callback and was told that residents still receive services such as fire and ambulance — but he then questioned how emergency vehicles are supposed to reach homes in winter if the road itself is not plowed. Rajotte’s concern is not with the frontline 311 staff themselves. He says they are doing the job they are assigned to do. His issue is with the system behind them. **If residents are paying thousands of dollars in property taxes, they should be able to get a clear answer about what services they receive, who is responsible, and what can actually be done when there is a problem.** For Rajotte, communication and basic service delivery have to improve together. No garbage pickup. No regular snow plowing. No water or sewer. An unpaved road. And difficulty getting answers. At some point, taxpayers are going to ask whether the level of service matches the size of the bill. #Sudbury #Ward7 #DavidRajotte #PropertyTaxes #311 #SnowPlowing #GarbageCollection #CityServices #RuralSudbury #Accountability #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth