RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

Taxpayers are suffering, especially with the high cost of living, noted Rob Williams, director of the French Creek Residents Association.

“This apparent lack of control by our RDN board representatives and overzealous planning and wish lists by staff cannot be allowed to continue.”

Speaking specifically to the plight of French Creek area residents, Williams stated their property taxes have shot up by more than 130 per cent since 2014 and could rise by nearly 60 per cent more over the next four years.

Williams called the ever-increasing tax hikes “Shocking and unsustainable.”

Brent Nicholls of Fairwinds Community Association took aim at the RDN’s stance on planned capital projects and their associated debt servicing, as well projected staff level increases.

He called on the RDN to focus on critical infrastructure needs like water, sewar and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital improvements.

“Those things should continue, but things that are not necessary that are not critical should be looked at very carefully and reduced or deferred.”

Nicholls said 2024 represents the midst of a 10-year period where Nanoose Bay area taxpayers could see their property taxes more than triple.

“So if you think that’s acceptable, I don’t know why we’re here, period,” an impassioned Nicholls said.

Wayne Stark of the Northwest Nanoose Residents Association told the board he appreciates they have a difficult job constantly dealing with senior government downloading, but said more needs to be done to offer relief.

He said the region’s tax base contains a highly vulnerable population.

“It’s old and on fixed income and young trying to make a life and if they can’t make a life here they go to Alberta or somewhere else where they might be able to have a cheaper house and another place to work and you wonder why our economy is not popping,” Stark said.

Parksville mayor Doug O’Brien reinforced financial obligations, including significant functions, that the RDN has to fund, including expensive emergency services commitments and the region’s share to upgrading NRGH and other healthcare projects.

Parksville director Sean Wood told the meeting a new municipal growth framework with the federal government is badly needed.

“Property taxes are regressive means of paying for everything. We are the front lines of the three orders of government I would argue, and we just see more things being offloaded onto our plate,” Wood said.

RDN board chair Vanessa Craig told Tuesday’s meeting the 2025-2029 financial plan is expected to be formally approved on March 11.

The RDN’s financial department is currently assembling an updated financial plan and property taxation graph for each jurisdiction.

Residents of Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach also contribute taxation to regional functions, including sewar, transit, Nanaimo Regional Hospital District initiatives and Vancouver Island Regional Library.

Seven rural electoral areas within the RDN between Cedar and Deep Bay have separate taxation rates based on varied localized service levels each area receives.

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Ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes

by Ian Holmes

RDN taxpayers want relief as board grapples with budget

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