Sue Powell is seeking to retain her seat on Parksville city council.
"I'm seeking re-election because I believe I have demonstrated over the past nine years that I am able to make responsible decisions that are good for our community," Powell said in a news release.
"Parksville will face many challenges in the next few years. The major issue, of course, is water treatment and intake," said Powell. "I have heard many concerns about the size of this proposed facility and I have been torn between building for the distant future, or building to meet our present day needs. Building for the distant future would require either massive financial support from Victoria and Ottawa, or huge increases in local taxes. I need to think of the people who live in this community and how raising local taxes would impact them and their families."
"Of all the various kinds of taxes levied by the three levels of government in Canada, local government's only revenue sources are property taxes and user fees. This provides a funding share of only eight per cent, while provincial governments get 42 per cent and the federal government 50 per cent," Powell continued. "I can't see that changing anytime soon. Indeed our taxes may require a modest increase to simply keep the present levels of basic services, infrastructure and public safety."