Subscribe
Montreal's municipal government released its budget for 2021 today, and it includes a 10-year vision for the city rather than the typical three. Over the next 10 years, the city plans on spending a total of $18.69 billion on major projects, averaging out to approximately $1.9 billion per year.
While the majority of funds are set to be spent on things like buildings and parks, the city is allocating 4.9% of its budget — a total of $907 million — to.... drum roll please... office furniture and equipment.
To be fair, this includes information technology (IT) equipment, which can be very pricey. But still — that's a whole lot of taxpayer dollars going toward office supplies.
We had some other ideas about how to spend the city's $907-million allocation.
18,000 Tesla Cybertrucks
Mariusz Burcz | DreamstimePrice: $50,000 each
Details: With $907 million, you could buy 18,000 Tesla Cybertrucks and finally create the futuristic, ultra-sophisticated army of cyborg warriors you've always dreamed of.
19 luxurious private islands
Pressfoto | DreamstimePrice: $50 million each
Details: If you've dreamed of having an island in the Caribbean or the Bahamas, at a going rate of approximately $50 million, the city's office furniture money could buy you almost 19 private islands. Cue Queen Fergie's "Glamorous."
60 multimillion-dollar homes
Typhoonski | DreamstimePrice: $15 million each
Details: If luxury real-estate is your thing, you could buy tens of multimillion-dollar homes with Montreal's office supply money.
At least 10 Parliamentary buildings
Scott Prokop | DreamstimePrice: $87 million each
Details: With the city's office supply money, you could buy — at least part of — Canada's Parliament 10 times over. The Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa is said to be worth $87.9 million.
Kylie Cosmetics
Boggy | Dreamstime
Price: $900 million
Details: Montreal's budget for office furniture is just enough to completely buy out Kylie Cosmetics, Kylie Jenner's $900 million cosmetics gold mine. You'd even have a few million to spare for staples and a printer!
A LOT of luxury poutines
Bhofack2 | DreamstimePrice: $50 each
Details: Picture the poutine of your dreams — foie gras, truffle, gold flakes and organically-cultivated cheese. Let's give it a $50 value. With $907 million, you could buy 18,140,000 of those luxury poutines. Poutine for life, baby!