Saanich voters flex their muscles to oppose AAP
More than 10,000 Saanich residents made the effort to vote – during a few summer weeks – to block a $150 million loan request for a new operations centre. The…
Rising costs, questionable returns
BY GEORGE BARNHART, BOARD MEMBER Why are we paying more in municipal taxes, fees and levies? Are we getting value for our money? Labour costs account for 50 per cent…
Is the lack of jail cells a crime?
Mayor unveils plan to reduce street disorder It’s forty years since the last upgrade of the Vancouver Island Regional Correctional Centre, so is there still sufficient capacity for every miscreant?…
Property tax hikes really exceed inflation
Ranging from 4.6 to 15.20%, all far exceed annual inflation As the deadline approaches to pay your property taxes, everyone is interested in what their friends in neighbouring municipalities pay.…
BC doubles lending threshold for municipalities
Less scrutiny, fewer electoral approvals will be required Municipal taxpayers are concerned that councils in Greater Victoria and across BC can now borrow twice as much money without electoral approval.…
Property taxes ‘gone with the wind’
Victoria councillors seeking options on supporting cinema in the city in wake of theatre’s closure Frankly, my dear Coun. Matt Dell, Dave Thomson, and Krista Loughton, I don’t give a…
Saanich AAP financing plan elusive
BY Shawn Steele, Saanich resident Most people don’t know what an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) is, how it works, why it is used, and how to oppose it. The AAP…
Taxpayers keeping their fingers crossed
A ‘roadmap’ to reforming regional government is finally underway It’s no wonder regional governments such as the CRD are a punching bag for taxpayers and critics. Regional district legislation was…
Bring out the dandelion wine !
Taxpayers impacted by deteriorating provincial finances How the province conducts its finances matters greatly to municipal taxpayers who are finding the grim news very hard to swallow. The latest credit…