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Residents in Sooke are concerned about the imminent tax hikes to pay for the new sewer system. |
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Calendar of Events & special Dates |
Sewer costs will be more than $1,200 per average property The infrastructure grant application submitted by Sooke Council for the sewerage project puts the residential tax impact at $629 per property. This figure does not include annual maintenance and operation costs pegged at $900,000 or $588 per property, in the same documents. The total increase per average property will be more than $1,200 per year. A tax increase of that magnitude is unthinkable and frightening when one considers the hikes still to come for the pool, hospitals, water, policing, and roads. I am reminded that for the first six or seven meetings, the mayor and council spent an inordinate amount of time trying to solve the problems of land use issues for folks in East Sooke and Otter Point. We heard much about trying to assist our friends and neighbours in those communities. It is a pity that the same mayor and council, without so much as a pause, can dump $15,000-$20,000 in total debt on people who trusted them and voted them into office. Yes, those of us outside the specified area are deeply concerned. Not only will our friends and family in the service area be hard hit by these costs, the rest of us will pay the price as the commercial owners pass the cost to customers. In his letter of request, Mayor Macgregor states: "Sooke Council and I are closely connected to the people we represent.... Council feels that it has the support of the community..." There is only one way to find out Mr. Mayor. Give the people an opportunity by referendum to say ‘yes’ they support your decision. It is called democracy. |
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