City fights for rural funds

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

A budget battle broke out at yesterday’s regional district meeting.

Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions is demanding rural areas pay more for city services, while representatives of Beaufort and Beaver Creek are looking to pay less.

The issue came to a head for Mayor Minions when the two rural areas tried to pull out of funding the air quality society.

“We are a board as a whole and air quality is a really great example of how that makes absolutely no sense,” she said. “Ultimately they are doing the same work. They are not, not representing Beaver Creek and Beaufort so as a collaborative that is looking at the greater good of the whole Alberni Clayoquot Regional District, I just feel like that makes no sense whatsoever.”

Beaver Creek Director Susan Roth and Beaufort alternate director Jack McLeman also tried to pull out of funding the shared economic development office.

Regional District directors voted to fund both services fully, despite the two opposing votes.