qathet Regional District (qRD) directors voted down a recommendation to divert funds being allocated to the parkland acquisition fund in the 2022 to 2026 financial plan to reduce the tax requisition.
At the December 15 regional board meeting, directors discussed the recommendation to divert funds that came forward in the second draft of the plan from the finance committee meeting on December 8.
At the beginning of the regional board meeting, directors heard a delegation from Andy Durie, Friends of Stillwater Bluffs Association, who said it is unfortunate that the matter was on the table.
“We would, as an association, encourage the regional district to put policies in place to use [the parkland acquisition fund] for what it is intended,” said Durie. “It’s not the best place to save money.”
Electoral Area A director and regional board chair Patrick Brabazon said emails have been coming quickly to directors regarding the matter.
Later in the meeting, directors considered a resolution that read: that the annual requisition in appendix A of the financial plan draft two for the regional parks summary be amended and reduced by 50 per cent to reduce the requisition for total regional services in appendix A and that other appendices be amended as necessary.
City director George Doubt said he wanted to make a motion that the annual requisition in appendix A be amended and reduced by $91,500 and the transfer to reserve be suspended and reduced to $3,679 for 2022. He said the reason for doing so is to keep taxation more in line with what he believes people want.
During debate, Electoral Area C director Clay Brander spoke against it and suggested keeping the funding for parks acquisition. He said some private properties are very popular with the public for recreational opportunities and natural beauty, and should the owners decide to sell, the public could be denied access to them.
“The parkland acquisition fund increases the chances that the qRD could purchase one or more of these properties and allow the public use of them indefinitely,” said Brander. “By reducing how much is set aside, we are putting into jeopardy the ability of the qRD to make a move should the opportunity arise.
“I encourage you to vote against this motion and keep the funding for this initiative that could potentially have big benefits.”
Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said more than two-thirds of the tax requisition increase was due to the waste management budget. He said he believes it would be better to seek savings in the waste management service. He brought forward a motion to postpone a decision until the February 2022 finance committee meeting.
Chair reluctant to divert funds
Brabazon said if the regional district ceases to put money into parks acquisition, there is the possibility it will be confronted someday with a chance to buy some property but won’t be able to take immediate advantage of it.
“I am reluctant to go down that route,” added Brabazon.
Doubt said if the only thing that happens out of the motion to divert funds is that directors start looking at other budgets where reductions can be found, that’s a positive thing. He said directors can look for savings in waste management or any other service.
It’s clear that many people want to invest in parkland, he added.
The motion to postpone failed.
Manager of financial services Linda Greenan pointed out a technicality in the main motion that the board was back to considering, that the transfer to reserve be reduced to $95,179 rather than $3,679 in 2022. The amended motion passed.
Fall said he hoped it is clear from his comments that he is not in favour of reducing the contribution to the parks acquisition fund.
“We can sharpen our pencils and find other ways to save some tax dollars and not have it come at the cost of the parks service, which has a modest increase,” said Fall.
Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said she was not going to vote in favour of the motion. She said the biggest increases are coming from waste management.
“It’s not the parks’ role to be the scapegoat for that proposed tax increase,” said McCormick. “I believe our budget needs to come down. The impact to the taxpayer is too great, but not through parks.”
City director CaroleAnn Leishman said she is grateful for all the emails she has received on the matter. She said it’s good to hear strongly and passionately from members of the public about how they feel about the fund.
“I have heard loud and clear from many residents from the municipality and the rural areas that they do not want to see cuts to parkland acquisition. I can’t support cuts because I would be doing a disservice to those who have strongly let me know. There are ways for us to do our due diligence to find other ways to save a little bit.”
The regional board unanimously voted to defeat the motion to apportion 50 per cent of the parkland acquisition fund toward the regional district’s tax requisition.
