As a taxpayer in North Cowichan, it irritates me to see our council member, Mr. Justice, blaming their bad management on previous councils.
The solution was always easy — just create reserves that over the long haul meet the future expenditure requirements of infrastructure like roads, parks, police, and fire. Remember, sewer, garbage and water are taxed separately outside of the general tax hikes. Over the long haul, that does not put too great a burden on current taxpayers.
However, councils have always ignored filling those reserves for true municipal needs, instead opting to focus our taxes on their discretionary, luxury, special interest wants instead of focusing on the true needs of the municipality. Then when infrastructure starts to deteriorate, it becomes a catastrophe.
There is a solution and that is to gradually start building reserves now, because everything will not break at once and vote for a candidate on April 12 who will do that.
Don Swiatlowski
North Cowichan
