Qualicum Beach residents didn’t say much about the proposed 5.5 per cent tax hike they could face this year.
Residents were given a chance to talk about the revised budget at the Committee of the Whole meeting held on March 9. Most of the comments expressed by residents were focused on staff recommendations of what the town should prioritize.
One resident said many people in Qualicum Beach are on fixed income and might be able to cope with the 5.5 per cent tax hike but only for a year.
“I think you might have one year of grace,” said the resident. “I wouldn’t really expect it after that, because people with fixed incomes are being squeezed in so many ways. I think you really should prepare for that and recognize that as a practical reality and political reality as well.”
Director of finance John Marsh said there’s less money available to provide what the community demands to see happen this year. He advises against tapping into the town’s reserves.
“We get requests to increase services and with cost increasing, with management issues that are coming up it’s getting harder and harder to fit things in,” said Marsh.
Marsh said choice needs to make the difficult decisions to prioritizing the things they want to see done.
Among the projects staff recommended not to proceed with is construction of the Eaglecrest roundabout, which carries a hefty price tag of $2.75 million. Marsh said the project also ranks 17th in the Town’s Age Friendly Transportation Plan.
READ MORE: Regional District of Nanaimo increases tax requisition in 2022 by 11.2 per cent
Other projects council agreed to put on hold at this time include the $350,000 washroom facility at Seaside Nature Park (but suggested staff look at putting a temporary washroom this summer); the viewing platform ($1.68 million) at the Memorial Avenue roundabout; and the proposed creation of a housing review committee that would required a budget of $25,000.
Coun. Teunis Westbroek was surprised not many people are upset about the staff recommendation to raise taxes by 5.5 per cent increase, from the initial project of 3.5 per cent.
“I am curious on how people feel about that,” said Westbroek. “I know all the projects that are listed are legitimate and all needed. A lot of it is failing infrastructure or unsafe infrastructure. We need to deal with that. But I am pleasantly surprised that not more people are up an arms about the potential tax increase.”
Among the projects council endorsed is the inclusion of $50,000 in the budget for a traffic study of the uptown core, which councillors Anne Skipsey and Westbroek indicated is an important priority due to developments happening in town.
A majority of the residents who spoke don’t want to see a piecemeal approach. They prefer a comprehensive study done. Joyce Damon, who has lived in Qualicum Beach for 40 years, has seen the traffic situation has continued to grow but noted no significant changes have been rendered to address the traffic flow.
“It’s inefficient and overall very costly to just address one thing at a time,” said Damon. “So maybe it is time for a traffic study.”
Residents also asked whether the budget has been examined through the lens of climate change.
“The impact of climate and how we can do things differently it’s embedded in our thought process on every single project,” said Marsh, who added the suggestion of separating the climate related cost is great in theory but difficult to do.
The committee of the whole approved recommendation that staff be directed to amend the town’s 2022-2026 financial plan bylaw to include the changes to the budget as reflected in the adopted resolutions of council arising from the March 9 meeting.