To the editor:
Why does the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) now think economic development is important?
There must be an election in the air!
So where has the economic development plan been for the past decade in the Cariboo? Voters should ask their returning candidates this question in the upcoming election.
The CRD does not have a regional or sub-regional development strategy for the unincorporated areas and many official community plans are outdated. There are businesses closing; fewer children in our schools; young people have to move away to find jobs and there is no new industry or development.
Why? Next time you hear of another subdivision or development proposal that has been rejected by the CRD ask yourself: would that new piece of property for sale or new investment brought a new family or possibly a new business to our area? And how much did that decision cost me in lost tax revenues for our community?
If we don’t grow in a sensible and sustainable manner, our property taxes will go through the roof because government operations increase.
How many times have you heard of a government lowering your taxes, or at best, not increasing them? New residents and development brings new tax revenues – simple math.
When will our elected officials understand we can’t afford “sleepy” communities?
We need to welcome new people and growth, or it won’t be balanced as we will have to pay more taxes for less.
New people bring “tax revenues” for all three levels of government and we have to grow in a balanced manner, so all levels of government have new revenues to offset the growing expenses for services that governments provide and we all expect – yes, three levels of government and one taxpayer.
Recent comments by the CRD chair about looking to the provincial government for a new taxation model usually ends up being you and me because it is that 3:1 taxation ratio that hits us all in our pocket.
Dianne Lawson
Sheridan Lake
