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There's plenty to rant about in Comox Valley

Dear editor, Just for a minute I would like for us to step back and look objectively at our local governments, some of their decisions and disposition as follows: Comox should be applauded for its adoption of zero-based budgeting this year.

Dear editor,

Just for a minute I would like for us to step back and look objectively at our local governments, some of their decisions and disposition as follows: Comox should be applauded for its adoption of zero-based budgeting this year.

These are times when we expect our officials look first at the statutory and essential programs e.g. health care, fire protection, police services, water, sewer, roads etc. before any consideration is given to discretionary programs.

It was refreshing to see the Comox initiative. Shifting the tax burden off businesses is laudable. This is our lifeline and businesses need to have an incentive to operate or they will not be there to provide jobs and needed/desired goods and services.

However, not on the backs of the residential property owners. Before taxes are reduced, we expect our officials will identify programs and/or services that may be reduced or eliminated, thus saving tax dollars or find a tax windfall. Maybe something like new residential development, new businesses starting up like a Costco, a new Quality Foods or Thrifty grocery store or maybe even a new Applebee's, which all bring jobs and new tax dollars to our governments.

Our three main employers in the Comox Valley are all government agencies. We need to encourage and support business and economic development.

What about our water consumption and restrictions?

It is wonderful that most residential property owners commit to using water sparingly and indulge in such savings as low-flush toilets and rainbarrels.

But, wait — our parks and playgrounds are exempt from this initiative. Does that mean then that the water used to water the parks and playgrounds during the hot, dry, summer seasons does not come from our reservoir or maybe it is not treated as the water coming to our homes? Not a chance.

The explanation is that these grounds must be watered every day or they may not survive. Is that true? My lawn will survive if watered twice per week but these grounds cannot?

And the water meter issue.

We are talking big bucks for what end result? The infrastructure requires upgrading. The $30+ million would be better spent there than on 'policing' the users.

Then there is the farmers' market.

Precious public moneys in competition with local business? I am not going to say much more than — give your head a shake!

And there is the homeless matter.

We agree there is a problem and it must be addressed. Many of these people need help — not just a bed. We, as a caring society have a responsibility to attend to this issue.

Some are more sensitive to this than others; consequently we must rely on our collective wisdom to deal with it. The rhetoric needs to stop!

This matter requires careful and thoughtful discussion with the community. Someone needs to head up the initiative and the community must be included in any decision.

Victoria is entertaining a novel approach to this matter and I am told that the cost of housing a 'homeless' person in Vancouver is $80 per day. I am not saying this is too much or too little to pay to tackle homelessness — rather I am simply saying this has an economic impact.

My last concern (that I will express here) is about the various local governments we have in the Comox Valley.

It appears to me that having several jurisdictions in a small geographic area is not cost-effective. I know we have fought this fight before; however times have changed.

Like health care, if we do not do something about this in a planned and calculated way — our tax base will need to continue to be very high to feed this insatiable monster (government). At least we can start with looking outside the box such as was suggested by Todd McDonald (as reported in our local media) commissioned by the regional district to suggest an alternative approach to making savings.

He told the regional district board that he thought that significant savings could be made if Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland and the regional district pooled some of their resources. This is thinking outside the box and may well be a cost saving we can all enjoy.

I know we have some very bright, caring and innovative people in our local governments. We need to challenge them to look outside the box, consult the electorate and find ways to stabilize if not reduce our property taxes as we cannot continue on this road of 'tax and spend.'

Larry Wenezenki,

Courtenay