To the Editor,
Re: City considers ending free over-80 passes, Oct. 8
Councillor Fred Pattje is quoted on the subject of recreation passes that, “Ability to pay is the main thrust and all of this is in light of us trying to get the leanest possible budget.” While I happen to agree with the first seven words of his statement, he proceeds to make one of the silliest suggestions I have read in years, that being the city is working towards preparing and approving a “lean budget” for Nanaimo taxpayers.
Pattje has been on council long enough to know that the city has been spending money for years far in excess of annual inflation and there is no effort, or indeed desire, by senior city staff or mayor and council to address this unsustainable path.
And if one happens to believe that taxes are currently much too high, just wait and see what is coming down the pipeline for taxpayers in 2014 and subsequent years. We haven’t seen anything yet, and it’s going to be brutal when it comes.
Wayne SchulstadNanaimo
