Every election candidates ask for the endorsement of Grumpy$ and are declined, but this time we have our very own candidate!

“There’s no law saying I can’t recycle the same platform in all 13 municipalities, the CRD and every other agency that pays, so that’s what I’m going to do,” says Ron Jeremiah Grump.

“If you must waste your vote, waste it on me.”

Grump hopes to capitalize on the widespread disaffection among voters without dependable transportation who are waiting for the regional transportation service to improve gridlock on bike paths.

“We are in a vicious cycle. For those of you that ride your bike twice a day, that’s not recycling. Remember, it gets more expensive to buy a tire pump every year, all because of inflation.”

Grump dresses in red from head-to-toe to draw attention to ballooning municipal budgets.

Besides the made-in-China bike-for-all pledge, Grump promises unlimited mocktails from your tap at every household and the creation of a 22-municipality region called Victoriapolis (one more than the Lower Mainland!). AI would free people from the need to work, and an individual mother figure for everyone would help combat feelings of loneliness.

“Name one other candidate that will give you a set of wheels?” he asks. “Name one other candidate that even offers a clearly articulated vision, management experience and political affiliations?”

As an extra incentive for renters – who tend not to bother voting – Grump will give a discount of 50% for selfies taken with him outside the voting stations.

For those with fur babies, a fire hydrant in front of every home and government contracts to anyone who will play fetch with him.

Finally, instead of endless council meetings by endless municipalities, Grump hopes to streamline governance.

“Instead of 100 local politicians, why not elect 1,000 with each serving a week so everyone gets a try? Local politicians will be elected as volunteers and no longer paid, but swear to help out their community instead of themselves. The only non-taxable benefit would be a rubber boot allowance to make it easier to visit constituents.”

There’s Toronto with 3.3 million or so people governed by 25 councillors and a mayor, then it’s high time Dysfunction-by-the-sea tried something different.

Grump argues he will probably change his platform before and during the campaign, and once elected and removed from office.

So, are you ready for change? Grump says he’s the antidote for those suffering from political depression.

Why can’t Langford and Sidney councils bother to follow their own best practices on remuneration that were developed by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM)?

The next mayor of Langford will see a pay bump of $30,000 or 24% to $124,656, while each councillor will have their compensation increased by $13,600 or 28% to $47,817 a year.

The UBCM council and board remuneration guide recommends reviews should be done at least a year prior to the next general election, not eight months.

As for transparency and communicating with the public, Langford still doesn’t publicly post pay or benefits from city duties or those as a result of their position.

The next mayor of Sidney will see a pay hike of $13,612 or 28% to $61,872, while each councillor will have their pay boosted by $7,328 or 38% to $26,605.

This salary review also wasn’t done at least a year prior to the next general election. The important remuneration bylaw was then adopted despite the absence of one councillor.

The UBCM also recommends a third-party consultant or community task force to recommend pay levels. When staff recommend pay increases for their bosses, it puts them in a conflict of interest situation.

All the compensation mentioned above are for base salaries only and take effect after the next election. Unfortunately, there was no discussion about additional pay received as a result of their position, any taxpayer-paid extended benefits or the council expense policy.

Neither hefty salary increase was discussed as a way to lower the proposed 15.13% property tax increase in Langford and the 12.4% hike now under consideration in Sidney.

Councils shouldn’t wonder why they struggle with public credibility and why some taxpayers are gnarly.

There’s never been greater need for change at municipal governments on the South Island.

The proposed City of Victoria budget at 10.44 % is described by Grumpy Taxpayer$ as ‘unworldly’ when compared to other large BC cities.

In smaller communities, Langford hopes to tame a projected 15.61% tax increase for 2026 over the next several months. Esquimalt council is looking for ways to reduce a proposed 13 per cent property-tax increase to single digits.

There are a number of large civic infrastructure projects planned such as the Crystal Pool in Victoria, the public works yard in Saanich, multiple community buildings in Central Saanich, a Westshore RCMP detachment, and so on. It would be wise for taxpayers to monitor these costly projects.

Water and sewer rates across the region have seen huge hikes to the dismay of homeowners.

You get the picture.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

We are a non-profit, non partisan, citizen’s group advocating for better governance and better value for our tax dollar. We are ready for change.

Thanks to the support of members, Grumpy Taxpayer$ has established a new social media presence. Enjoy and let us know what you think.

Reddit Site – https://www.reddit.com/user/GrumpyTaxpayers/

Instagram Site – https://www.instagram.com/grumpytaxpayers

Threads Site – https://www.threads.com/@grumpytaxpayers

YouTube Site – https://www.youtube.com/@GrumpyTaxpayersofVictoria

LinkedIn Site – https://www.linkedin.com/company/grumpy-taxpayer/

Twitter Site – https://x.com/grumpytaxpayer1

Thank you for your continued support.

~ John Treleaven, Chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$

Not well at all.

Five cities have already approved their budget for 2026 and include Chilliwack (4.9%), Delta (2.9%), City of Langley (5.82%), Kelowna (4.37%), and Coquitlam (3.37%).

As yet, there’s no budget proposal from Surrey and Abbotsford: Surrey is trying to grapple with their police budget following the provincial decision to move forward with the transition to the Surrey Police Service. Abbotsford has delayed deliberations until February as a result of proposed changes to pipeline property tax assessments.

There are six other cities working on their latest proposed budget increases which include City of North Vancouver (2.9%), Maple Ridge (3.5%), Nanaimo (6.3%), Richmond (3.04%), Kamloops (6.7%), Burnaby (4.8%), and Vancouver (0%).

Neighbouring Saanich initially proposed a hike of 8.74%, but the revised goal is less than 5%.

Then there is Victoria (which seemingly operates in a different galaxy far, far away) asking for a startling 10.44%.

The city staff report in the fall suggested nearly $18.3 million in savings by re-evaluating operational efficiencies over a five-year plan got a muted response from council.

Of the more than 200 services and programs provided by the city, are there some that can be eliminated or privatized? How can a doubling of staff to 34 since 2021 in the department of people and culture be justified?

What are the staff costs to regulate short-term rentals properties as a result of new provincial legislation? Can some budget costs be attributed to lawsuits against the city? How much revenue is foregone because of unpaid parking tickets?

Often the outliers in the province, why-oh-why is the mayor and council asking for a gut-wrenching hike of 10.44%?

Outstandingly sweet Candy Cane Awards 2025 !

Saanich, Colwood and Central Saanich recognized, but Lump of Coal Award for CRD

To recognize extraordinary performance, three municipalities on the South Island are enjoying an outstandingly sweet Candy Cane Award from Grumpy Taxpayer$.

The 12-packs of ‘Jet-puffed candy cane with artificial marshmallow flavour with no nutrient value,’ made in another country by Kraft, were bought on sale a year ago at a considerable discount. As a bonus this year – drum roll, please – there’s also a ‘Lump of Coal’ prize for a particularly awful performance (more about that later) by a local regional government.

Our top prize goes to Saanich council for eventually recognizing many taxpayers are struggling and that some financial moderation was required in the new 93-million operations yard.

“A long-delayed but scaled-back modern operations yard in Saanich is absolutely critical for the region’s largest municipality,” says John Treleaven, chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$.

“It’s clear affordability is a top priority these days for most taxpayers and financial restraint is certainly necessary on very expensive capital projects.”

Council initially proposed a $172-million redevelopment plan that would have included a new operations centre alongside a mixed-use project to be developed in partnership with a private developer, with a large housing component and towers up to 18 stories.

Second place goes to Colwood for introducing a performance management dashboard tool to help better govern a municipality.

“Taxpayers know how challenging it is to manage any municipality, especially one that’s growing quickly such as Colwood. Taxpayers know tax dollars are increasingly precious and limited and so better governance is vital,” says Treleaven.

The real benefit and objective is to drive the achievement of their strategic plan into every manager and indeed every employee’s job description /evaluation, says Treleaven. Local governments face “unique pressures including multi-stakeholders, service delivery complexity and short term political cycles along with the need for long-term planning.”

A performance dashboard, using Power BI, within the City’s operational plan represents a significant advancement in management, providing real-time visibility into organizational performance across multiple dimensions. The City is currently implementing a new budget management tool, and this tool will support future financial and operations updates.

Third place honours goes to Central Saanich for taking an assertive approach in getting the province to finally build a flyover off Highway 17 at Keating Cross.

“To accomplish what Central Saanich has done, it took ambition, courage and dedication to the public good not widely or frequently seen around here,” says Treleaven.

By eliminating the need to turn across busy highway traffic and reducing congestion, the overpass project improves safety dramatically.

Construction began in June 2023, opened to northbound traffic in July 2025 and is now almost complete. The project cost $76.8 million and Central Saanich taxpayers contributed $2.5 million.

The second-ever “ Lump of Coal Award” to the CRD for taking more than a half century before it decided to form a regional transportation service.

“Whether it’s congestion or gridlock, every resident in the region knows the transportation system on the South Island has needed improvements for decades,” says Treleaven.

“Governance failures around transportation policy in general are effectively a stunning indictment of our failed system of local government,” say Treleaven. “That includes the failure of the CRD to lead or ensure the province build a full exchange to facilitate southbound traffic, not just a flyover to Keating Cross in Central Saanich.”

In November 2025, after almost 60 years, the 13 mayors in the region decided to establish a Regional Transportation Service and finally introduced a bylaw to do so.

And by the way, just so you know, there’s a debate about the origin of candy canes.

Wikipedia references 1670 when a German choirmaster gave the kids ‘sugar sticks’ to keep them quiet during worship services. The Sugar Association suggests the first documented use of candy canes in Christmas decor (trees) dates back to 1847.

Available for Media Interviews:

John Treleaven, Chair, Grumpy Taxpayer$

treleavengroup@shaw.ca

250.656.7899, cell 250.588.7899

Stan Bartlett, Director, Grumpy Taxpayer$

grumpytaxpayers@gmail.com

250-477-9907

The Victoria City Council is asking staff the wrong question. Asking staff to recommend ways to reduce the $38M increase in their provisional 2026 Budget will not achieve meaningful results.

Governance best practice would have the Council establish the desired outcome, and lead by setting a target. For example, the Vancouver Council has asked staff to develop a budget with a 0% increase, and in Colwood, the budget target is a 2% increase.

To get serious, labour costs need to be addressed.

Labour costs account for 54% of the City of Victoria’s operating costs. What is shocking is that staffing has increased by 68%, from 868 in 2019 to 1460 in 2024.

When higher wages, benefits, and pensions are considered, the average cost per employee rose by roughly 25% in the same period. Inflation for this period is estimated to be 19% to 21% based on the CPI for the Greater Victoria region.

Taxes have increased 35% since 2019. Development costs charges paid for by homebuyers and renters have increased by 258%. A 2026 tax increase of 13.3% is unacceptable.

Fewer hanging baskets don’t cut it. Clearly, substantive labour cost cuts are needed to reduce the proposed budget. Asking staff for recommendations to reduce their own proposed budget won’t do it.

Richard A. Rowland’s popularized phrase, ‘The inmates are running the asylum,’ seems an appropriate metaphor for the dysfunctional governance in Victoria.

DIG DEEPER

Victoria council votes down motion to scrap raises next year, Victoria Times Colonist, Nov. 15, 2025.

An estimated 400 jobs could be cut at City of Vancouver, Business in Vancouver, Nov. 6, 2025.

Economic growth starts with tax restraint

Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce’s new CEO John Wilson is calling on all 13 municipalities in the Capital Regional District (CRD) to hold the line on property tax increases in 2026.

This follows Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s proposed property tax freeze in his final budget before next year’s election.

“As local governments across B.C. begin their budget processes this fall, they have an opportunity to demonstrate that they truly support local economic growth. That support starts with restraint,” says Wilson.

“The past five years have buffeted society with wave after wave of challenges: Ongoing disruptions to Canada’s trading relationship with the U.S. continue to cause economic uncertainty. But these broader issues make it even more important for municipalities to stay focused on their core responsibilities. Local governments don’t help anyone by spending beyond their means.”

Property taxes are not paid by property owners alone. Any increase ultimately leads to higher rents and higher costs for the goods and services businesses provide. That’s a burden every resident feels, says Wilson.

DIG DEEPER

Municipalities must focus on needs not wants this budget season, Business Examiner, Oct. 28, 2025.

Victoria chamber CEO calls on CRD municipalities for budget cuts to reach 0% property tax increase, CHEK News, Oct. 29, 2025.

Taxpayers report warns that B.C.’s debt is exploding, Canadian Taxpayers Federation (BC), Oct. 29, 2025.

Come judgment day next fall, trying to figure out who to run your community can be a daunting task. Most people will vote on past performance and if a mayor or councillor helps to make their lives better, happier or municipality better. While others might look for advice from their bartender, barber, hairdresser, taxi driver, local labour council, or even Great Aunt Matilda.

Since councils are elected to pass bylaws, provide good governance and value for the tax dollar, one important measure to consider is whether the mayor or councillor has actually been showing up for votes.

If you are a Victoria or Saanich resident it’s fairly easy to find out.

A so-called ‘council meeting dashboard’ in Victoria has been operational during this term which makes it easy to track how your favourite council member voted or whether they declared a conflict of interest.

As for absences during the 675 votes cast since November 2022, Coun. Susan Kim missed 54, Krista Loughton, 50 and Chris Coleman, 36. Everyone else was usually present for votes.

Some, but not all, council meetings were missed due to illness. Other absences can be attributed to attending a conference or meeting on behalf of the city.

In Saanich, a new ‘council voting dashboard tool’ was started this spring to improve public transparency and accessibility. The tool also provides a visual and user-friendly way for residents to track how councillors vote on specific issues at council meetings. It tabulates all council, committee-of-the-whole plus public hearings.

Importantly, the dashboard registers only 794 vote results in the last year. As agendas were solely paper-based and not digital, there are no plans to extend records to the start of the term in 2022, the District of Saanich told Grumpy Taxpayer$.

Up Aug. 24, for a variety of reasons, four councillors were absent during a significant number of votes – Couns. Judy Brownoff missed 125, Nathalie Chambers missed 85, and Karen Harper, 51.

Colin Plant, who took a leave of absence from May 2024 to April 2025, was absent for 208 votes. During the last federal election he ran unsuccessfully for the NDP in the Saanich-Gulf Islands riding.
In both Victoria and Saanich voters can determine if their local politician showed up for a vote that’s dear to their heart and to learn how they voted on the matter.

But unfortunately, no other municipalities in the region offer this service to help improve transparency and provide better governance.

So residents in these jurisdictions – including the larger and rapidly growing municipalities of Langford, Esquimalt and Colwood – will need to roll up their sleeves to do their own detective work.

The attendance records of all of the 100 local politicians on the South Island can be found through the video recordings or minutes of dozens if not hundreds of council meetings.
So good luck, as always, in our beloved Dysfunction-by-the-Sea.

DIG DEEPER

Saanich Council Voting Dashboard, District of Saanich, 2025.

https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/local-government/mayor-council/schedule-agendas-minutes/voting-dashboard.html

Saanich launches innovative Council Voting Dashboard Tool, Saanich News, Mar. 3, 2025.

https://www.saanichnews.com/local-news/saanich-launches-new-voting-dashboard-to-improve-transparency-7856087

City of Victoria Meeting Dashboard, 2025.

https://opendata.victoria.ca/pages/mayor-and-council

The public, political masters and pundits are now wondering why those best laid plans were rejected.

Are taxpayers fed up with the increasing tax load or afraid the $150 million budget will balloon far above that figure?

Following decades of cost-plus budgeting, property taxes increased 8.02 % this year and the average five-year household estimated increase is 7.44%. To pay for the yard, the average homeowner would have seen a tax hike of 0.85% for the next four years. On top of that, water, sewer and solid waste utility bills are all going up seven or eight percent annually during the five-year period.

Were residents unconvinced of the need?

It’s not surprising a new yard was the number one priority of council. The facility is critical to provide services for the district, and doesn’t meet building codes, provide inadequate space and pose safety risks. There may have been some aspect of the plan that was particularly unacceptable.

Maybe there wasn’t sufficient public engagement?

The need for a new yard and a large expenditure has been known for years. Compared to many of the other large regional infrastructure projects, Saanich provided considerable opportunity to weigh-in going back months. An operation centre is seemingly unimportant and may not have immediately attracted public scrutiny (especially if you’re searching for council agendas or minutes on the district website).

Does it point to general dissatisfaction with Saanich council?

Within a few months Save Our Saanich (SOS) became an influential advocacy group that successfully led opposition to the AAP. Since the fall Saanich has been also getting an earful on the proposed 20-year redevelopment plan for the Quadra and MacKenzie corridors. It culminated in a large, rowdy turnout at chambers on July 9.

While a long way from any possible decision or action, some residents are anxious about an amalgamation with Victoria. It’s probable, given the strong recommendation of the Victoria-Saanich Citizens’ Assembly, the matter will go to referendum next year at election time.

Maybe a groundswell of voters have decided some longtime Saanich councillors have finally used up their political capital and reached their best-before-date.

Or, more than likely, were voters judging the AAP process?

In recent years voters around the province have been increasingly opposed to the undemocratic nature of the AAP process. Unlike a municipal vote or a referendum, the public feels very uncomfortable with needing to vote against a jaw-dropping loan request, launching court cases and rejecting several controversial loans.

In 2012, the federal government outlawed negative option billing in the business world. Despite the fact it disrespects voters, discredits municipal governments and erodes public trust, this province embraces it the concept.

Now that the province has doubled municipal loan limits and decreased the need, there will be fewer AAPs and less public pushback. It’s very unlikely Saanich council will proceed unilaterally with the operations centre project.

Shutting down this AAP loan request underscores the need for the province to update the rest of the dusty legislation governing municipalities.

Voters rejecting the AAP suggests an inflection point for politics in Saanich. The civic election and likely referendum questions on Oct. 17, 2026 already points to a sea change.

DIG DEEPER

After rejection, $172M Saanich project could be split into smaller components, mayor says: Mayor says it’s unlikely the district would go ahead without voter approval, Times Colonist, July 23, 2025.
https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/after-rejection-172m-saanich-project-could-be-split-into-smaller-components-mayor-says-10975794

Negative Option Billing Regulations (SOR/2012-23), Government of Canada, 2012.

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2012-23/page-1.html#h-784825

Back to the drawing board: Saanich voters reject $150M for operations centre, Saanich News, July 19, 2025.
https://www.saanichnews.com/local-news/back-to-the-drawing-board-saanich-voters-reject-150m-for-operations-centre-8139623
Saanich residents defeat plan to borrow $150M for operations centre, Times Colonist, July 19, 2025.
https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/saanich-residents-defeat-plan-to-borrow-150m-for-operations-centre-10956626
Saanich Operations Centre Redevelopment, District of Saanich, July 2025.

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 to 60 per cent of the City of Victoria’s operating costs. What is shocking is that staffing has increased by 68 per cent, from 868 in 2019 to 1,460 in 2024. When considering higher wages, benefits and pensions, the average cost per employee rose by roughly 25 per cent in the same period. Inflation for this period is estimated to be 19 per cent to 21 per cent, based on the consumer price index for the Greater Victoria region.

Are we getting more or better services? It’s hard to imagine that transportation has improved when you sit in endless traffic jams. Repair projects that used to take days or weeks now take weeks, months or, in the case of Blanshard Street, years. Forty-eight per cent of downtown businesses said they would not renew their leases, due to deteriorating conditions.

Are staff serving more citizens? Population growth for Victoria proper has been a modest 7.4 per cent over the past five years. Out-migration is increasing, and businesses are voting with their feet by leaving. Retail vacancy has jumped to 11 per cent.

Who is paying for this largesse? Citizens pay through taxes and fees. Property taxes have increased 35 per cent since 2019. Residential taxpayers are paying $1,100 to $ 1,300 more.

Homebuyers and renters, not developers, will bear the brunt of the City of Victoria’s 258 per cent increase in the development cost charges for single-family homes.

Then there are the non-tax revenues — user fees, service charges and funds from other levels of government. You are paying 30 to 35 per cent more for non-tax revenues over the five years.

Vancouver council recently approved a 3.9 per cent increase, additional funding for policing and a $22-million reduction in spending through efficiency measures.

In Victoria, we are paying more and getting less.