Recreation referendum unfair
The recreation referendum was a set-up. Pitting the likes of North Cowichan, Duncan and Ladysmith against the more sparsely populated electoral areas ensured passage of it. Even the mayor of North Cowichan encouraged their voters to say yes because their taxes would go down and everyone else would pick up the slack.
The CVRD advertised this as being fair for all. They don’t know the meaning of the word. When the majority votes in favour, they overrule the few objectors. To add insult to injury, they use the same funding model as they have for all of their other functions. Per $100,000. This is what I object to. We will be paying up to 1.5 times the average household. We are in our 70s, on a pension, and do not partake in any of these recreational facilities. Yet, we are deemed to be rich because of our assessment and can afford it. We can’t.
We had no say in this. Market forces drove our assessment up and had nothing to do with any improvements. Nothing has changed. This is why I have always advocated for a parcel tax. Fair to everyone. The least they could do is a means test. We are being overtaxed so much that we may have to relocate to somewhere else that is less expensive and that our pension can handle. After having lived here for over 35 years, paying our taxes, being a part of this community, helping neighbours, etc., seems all for naught. Sad to say that we appear to being pushed out to make way for the new. I am sure we are not the only seniors feeling the pinch.
All the sacrifices we have made to make our house a home has come down to a choice: leave everything behind that we have built up to accommodate our aging bodies or get the hell out of Dodge before the revenuers come to seize our property. Who knew it would come to this?
Ed Aiken
Cobble Hill