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Vote ‘no’ and make your own donation

Vote ‘no’ and make your own donation

Dear editor,

As a homeowner who will be asked to support a proposal to give $6-$10 a year extra on my taxes to “resolve” the issue of homelessness on Nov. 28 I will be voting NO.

I hope Courtenay’s homeowners will turn this proposal down.  The money generated by this addition to our taxes would probably fund salary and costs to administer this initiative with very little actually going into providing a roof much less food for the homeless. Accounting time to administer the money, meetings to determine who and how much would be allocated would adsorb much of the fund. There are many societies and organizations that are established to help homeless people, and I am sure if each of us were to give the Salvation Army an extra six dollars the money would have a more direct route to those that need help, or for that matter we can give to Habitat, Aides, the Food Bank, etc.  All are actively doing good work.

Homelessness is a sad but real part of life in every city in the world.

The group called “Coalition to End Homelessness” may be a very dedicated group but sadly ending homelessness is not something that will ever be achieved.

Their plea for support for this increase in our taxes is just a way to open a door.  Once we vote yes on this initiative there is no going back, we will only be looking at the tax increasing with very little chance of the homeless issue ever being resolved.  The approximate budget the tax would generate has been suggested to be $180,000.  That is not enough to provide a few beds in a new safe place, much less a home!

Think about this issue and do two things.  Vote No on Nov. 28 and give a donation to the existing charity of your choice.  It will be well spent.

Karen Whitworth

Courtenay