North Cowichan should privatize public works
There is no need for tax increases as per comments from Mark Frame, [manager of Financial Services] for the Municipality of North Cowichan.
One simple solution required to eliminate tax increases. That is to contract out the public works department. The employees could even form their own company and place a bid on the contract. That way they will see the true meaning of how much their department is costing the taxpayers.
When the B.C. government eliminated the Department of Highways, maintenance, a company was formed, called Mainroad Contracting, and this company was formed by former B.C. government highway employees.
Contracting out the public works department would eliminate wages, benefits, pensions, mechanical expenses, purchasing new equipment, fuel and oil expenses, tires, insurance, tools, and a lower health employer tax.
Only the superintendent and foreman would be retained by the municipality as they would supervise the jobs to be done by whoever becomes the contractor. An example contract would be a five year term, and at the end of the five year term, bidding on a new five year contract would begin.
This one solution alone, would make budgeting a much easier job.
A 100 per cent win, win, for the taxpayers.
Unbelievable!
Joe Sawchuk
Duncan