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Lantzville’s mayor won’t support proposed 10 per cent tax hike

Feb 10, 2017 | 11:36 PM

Lantzville’s mayor says there’s “just no way” a nearly 10 per cent tax increase being proposed by staff is going to fly in the small district.

The 2017 budget and five-year financial plan being proposed by staff would see two district positions increased to full-time status, accounting for nearly 60 per cent of the potential spike in property taxes.

“There’s just no way I can support any sort of increase even approaching 9.92, or let’s call it 10 per cent,” mayor Colin Haime said. “It’s just not something where the District itself, in my mind, can continue on that track.”

Staff have requested the fire chief be bumped up from half-time to full-time, while the planner position would also be pushed to a full-time role.

“The argument that development will come to Lantzville with additional water and therefore we need to staff it, that shouldn’t be on the backs of existing residents.”

Haime said he’s not “completely sold” the additional staffing is justified.

A staff report stated increased real estate activity has led to more land use inquiries in Lantzville. For several reasons, including the pending connection to the city of Nanaimo’s water supply, activity is expected to continue to increase.

“Expecting the community planner to maintain the same level of service on a part-time basis is unreasonable and unsustainable,” the report stated.

“When it comes to the planner, that’s development driven, developers should pay for it,” Haime said. “An existing resident is not using the planner services…if there are special projects, cost it out, charge the developer and then when that project is done you don’t have that on-going contract.”

Haime said the level of fire services Lantzville residents are getting won’t be impacted whether the chief becomes full-time or not. He said the demand on the fire chief seems to be more “administrative based.”

There’s still plenty of time for adjustments to the budget before the District is required to adopt it in May.

“We’ve spent the last two years looking at the budget and cutting items. I think we have to kind of sharpen the pencils or decrease the expectations,” Haime said.

 

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi