North Cowichan - Re: Sportsplex vote results bad for whole region Nov. 28
I have to agree with the editor on this one. Unfortunately the savings for the CVRD can now assist to pay the pay raise for the CVRD electoral directors and yes, stay tuned as the board of directors soon vote on their new pay raise. Call me cynical, but my train of thought does have a caboose here. Read on.
Island Savings gets their name on this building [the Cowichan community centre] for $100,000 per year according to the mayor and council. For this they get their name plastered on the building and it must get hundreds/thousands of mentions per week in coffee shops, newspapers and homes across the Valley. My point is, that when this contract comes up for renewal, we should look at putting a greater value on this marketing opportunity. It might be $250,000 per year, possibly more, but this could assist in offsetting future expenditures and possibly lower the tax burden to us who pay $65 per $100,000 of assessed property value.
So, wouldn't it make sense to solicit another corporate entity to perhaps allow them to have their name on the Sportsplex for $150,000 per year and commit to a five or 10 year contract? How about "Coast Capital Cowichan Valley Sportsplex" or "Peter Baljet Cowichan Sportsplex" or "WalmartPlex" "Save-On" or "Thriftiesplex"? Anyway, you get the idea. We need to think out of the box here and quit relying on politicians to come up with new tax schemes to save us from ourselves.
I for one would be pleased to offer some guidance to CVRD and North Cowichan council on how to maximize our public resources to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. Perhaps there are some other like-minded marketing people who would like to assist.
Rob Saare
North Cowichan