City status proposal hits first roadblock

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A survey of Taber residents shows definite resistance to town council’s proposal to pursue city status. The survey went out, returned, and the results were released in the Oct. 15 council meeting agenda. There was no lack of engagement on the issue, as 1,090 respondents answered the question: Would you be in favour of Taber becoming a city?

 The question was answered with a fairly resounding NO. The breakdown was simple, allowing only one of three responses: yes, no, or no opinion either way. ‘No’ received 70 per cent of the votes, ‘yes’ received 27 percent, and the remainder were neutral.

 The town’s administration analyzed the responses and came up with some common themes. For the ‘no’ crowd, it asked those citizens what concerns they had about Taber becoming a city. One common theme was the preservation of small-town identity and the fear of losing Taber’s close-knit, small-town feel to urbanization and population growth.

 Residents also resisted the potential for a higher tax burden and a cost of living increase. Respondents mentioned crime prevention, public safety, and enhanced law enforcement as necessary elements of transitioning to a city. Concerns that Taber’s infrastructure and public services may not be prepared for city-level demands, leading to resource shortages and service degradation, were present as well.

 The administration noted that residents believe the Town is not keeping up with its current offerings, making residents skeptical about whether the municipality would be able to keep up with being a city.

 Though the Town released an FAQ document highlighting the pros and cons of the proposal, some survey respondents cited unclear justification for city status. Some felt that the motivation was driven by prestige rather than practical needs. The common trending themes indicated that people want a clear justification, transparent motivations, and community driven decisions.

 The survey revealed that residents are pushing for public involvement in the decision-making process, “ensuring that the decision to become a city should be made by the community through a democratic process with residents having a strong say in the outcome.”

It was clear that to many, Taber’s small-town charm and community-focused environment was an integral part of the town’s character. In addition, “Some respondents raised concerns about the cost of transitioning to a city and whether it was a prudent financial decision,” the report said. “They wanted reassurance that the process would be managed effectively and not lead to wasteful spending.”

The administrative report concluded that, “No decisions have yet been made by council as to a potential city status application. The feedback gathered in this survey will play a key role in shaping the next steps, and we are dedicated to finding solutions that reflect the community’s needs and priorities.”