We’ve been swindled with new CVRD functions
To all those who voted in favour of the new housing and watershed functions, you were misled by the CVRD. It was claimed that these were so important to pass that there would be consequences if they were not. They were right, in that our taxes are going up by an extraordinary amount. But wait, there’s more. The original amounts that were used were reduced for this year in order to soften the blow.
What I don’t understand is why an elected official would commit this much money and not know what will be done with it. There used to be a time when results were looked at before advancing even more. Who is going to monitor them and what criteria will be used to determine if the outcomes were as proposed? It is called “results based”.
How many houses do you think will be built? None by this group. They are an expensive lobby group that will submit glowing reports on how well they are doing. Any housing that will be done will be in Duncan or North Cowichan where the assessments are less, so it means all those whose properties are in other areas that have been hit with higher ones will be subsidizing them.
There are functions that are essential and need to be financed but these two new ones are not and is just icing on the cake for themselves. At least our area director got the parks acquisition reduced dramatically but, judging by some of the directors’ comments, it will go back up. After all, everyone is earning so much money, we can afford all their dreams. Expect even higher taxes next year when this is added back in and when more lobby groups come forward with their hands out.
Note that the CVRD does not use the parcel tax, where everyone pays the same. It is always stated that this was brought forward by staff. I thought staff worked for the CVRD (meaning the taxpayer and they could be directed to use the parcel tax for any number of functions? It would be the fair way, but that is not in the minds of these people.
We have been swindled.
Ed Aiken
Cobble Hill