It’s been a bad run for the executives at TransLink, whose free-spending ways and poor decisions are finally coming under the massive, widespread criticism they so richly deserve.

Hidden in yesterday’s avalanche of stories about TransLink brass getting big raises was a letter to The Province from executive VP Bob Paddon (total pay package in 2012: $307,857 – but who’s counting?), responding to my recent op/ed hypothesizing that TransLink’s executives – not the board, mayors, province or taxpayers – are running the show.

Let’s play a round of Mythbusters:

Paddon wrote: As Bateman well knows, in 2012 there was a provincial audit of TransLink, as well as an efficiency review and progress report by the transportation commissioner. The common finding? Trans-Link is an efficient and well-run organization.

We say: these high level audits found TransLink is wasting one out of every ten dollars we send them – and they didn’t even drill down into actual program spending. If they had, that number would have gone up. Further, the transit commissioner has expressed concerns that frontline bus service has bore the brunt of what few efficiency efforts have been made – but the fat cats at TransLink corporate HQ are not making similar sacrifices.

Paddon wrote: In the next 30 years, one million more people will live here. That means more demand on our transportation network.

We say: That growth will also add big dollars to TransLink’s coffers.

Paddon wrote: We know that $23 billion is a big figure, but it represents just a potential range of transportation investments, identified in past plans and through discussions with municipal and regional partners. Can our region afford all of it? Probably not. As Bateman rightly points out, the region also needs other investments in things like health and education.

We say: Then why are you out there flogging this crazy plan? TransLink is a $1.3 billion a year agency today, and this plan (plus the operating costs to run it) would mean doubling every penny of today’s revenue – 34 cents in TransLink gas taxes? $10 fares? Double the hydro levy and property tax? Come on. Get real.

Paddon wrote: It's up to our region to balance all the needs, decide on the priorities and consider how to pay for it, with the knowledge that affordability is a real concern for people.

We say: Then show some leadership on that.

Paddon wrote: The reality is we can't save our way to growth, nor can we spend our way to a better future.

We say: Use growth to pay for growth, like other systems in the world. In the meantime, actually walk out that last statement instead of just mouthing it – a $23 billion splurge is precisely trying to spend your way to a better future.

Paddon wrote: TransLink provides a world-class service, modelled after many other jurisdictions, and our region must continue the conversation about future transportation needs.

We say: So why doesn’t TransLink support the referendum? What a perfect way to dialogue these issues.