Re: CVRD mulling 19.33% tax increase in 2024 (Courier, Feb. 22).
Chemainus Valley Courier – “North Cowichan mayor Rob Douglas said that, despite the financial pressures, the referendum on the parkland acquisition fund in 2008 was overwhelmingly supported by residents, and that support is still strong.”
Yes, most taxpayers in the Cowichan Valley Regional District are in favour of the Regional Parkland Acquisition Fund.
But we’re already facing a CVRD tax increase of around 16 per cent – this, despite Canada’s inflation rate ranging from 3-4% over the past year. Some of us already have a few questions about that.
And now the weighted majority of the CVRD board has voted to top up the Regional Parks Acquisition Fund to $2.5 million for this year – which would put our total tax increase to 19.33 per cent.
No. Absolutely not.
Taxpayer support for the Parkland Acquisition Fund is not that strong.
Thank you to Cobble Hill director Mike Wilson, and the majority of others who voted against the increase – but the “weighted majority” won the vote. Now is the time for concerned citizens to squawk about this.
Lori Hamilton,
Cobble Hill