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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 |
Sooke referendum needed for proposed sewer system Letter to the Times Colonist April 9, 2001 by David and Joanne Hatherly, Sooke In the April I article, "Some fume about sewers", Sooke Mayor Ed McGregor dismisses sewer opponents who don't live in the proposed service area. It should be pointed out: neither does he. We do live in the proposed service area, and we can assure him that many people here are concerned about the cost. The sewer system's $8-million capital cost [one third of the $24 million total cost] plus approximately $1 million of operating costs may well increase the average household's annual tax bill by $900 or more. That's quite a jump. To date, every large public project in this community has been decided by referendum; however, the mayor and council are opting to go with a "council initiative." Council initiatives are complex creatures that lack the forthright simplicity of a referendum. There are many rules around them with which the electorate is not familiar, therefore increasing the likelihood of an error being made which will render the property owner's protest petition void. For example: how many property owners know that under Section 632.7 (c) a petition is voice if the majority of owners of a property do not sign. This means that if Mr. Smith sends in his signed protest "petition", it can be rejected on the grounds that Mrs. Smith, also a registered owner, didn't sign it. It is because of this and many more complexities that the community is calling for a referendum to decide this costly issue. |
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