Enough is enough. Total nonsense with the Cowichan Valley Regional District tax increase proposal of 11.49 per cent.
Time to take a look at absurd wages being paid to CVRD employees, using the chief financial officer as an example.
Total yearly wage was $197,045 in 2017, $200,614 in 2018, $225,657 in 2019, $228,847 in 2020 and $232,301 in 2021. Total nonsense. This wage increase has to cease and be frozen until the day of retirement. The end to wage increases. In 2019, the CFO received a $25,043 or a 12.5 per cent wage increase.
The present yearly salary for the Premier of B.C. is $218,586. Why should the CVRD CFO be paid $13,615 more per year?
Due to the results of the passed recreation referendum, the amount now costing to recreation is $5.25 million more than in 2022.
Results of the referendum in the City of Duncan were 610 yes, 205 no. Results in the Municipality of North Cowichan were 4,846 yes and 2,294 no. Results in the Town of Ladysmith were 813 yes and 775 no. Results in the Town of Lake Cowichan were 357 yes and 506 no. The results in the area electoral ridings were 2,718 yes and 4,227 no.
The recreation referendum only benefited the heavily populated areas of the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan, the result being higher recreational costs for the area electoral ridings and lower recreational costs for the City of Duncan and the Municipality of North Cowichan.
The CVRD will be receiving $5.6 million from the provincial government. This money is to be used to build and upgrade infrastructure and amenities. If this is the case, why is the CVRD proposing an 11.49 per cent tax increase when infrastructure expenses will be covered by the amount received from the provincial government.
What the CVRD management and CVRD board of directors need to do is cut down on expenses just like they do when it comes to their own personal finances. First on the agenda is to take control of outrageous wage rates.
Unbelievable!
Joe Sawchuk,
Duncan