These new proposed CVRD taxations will impact taxpayers on Thetis Island and also renters on Thetis Island as these increased taxations will most likely need to be passed on to those renting
The CVRD Board Directors will be voting on the 8 Aug to include the following questions on the Local Government Election Ballot (Oct 20) as referendum questions.
http://cvrd.primegov.com/portal/Meeting?compiledMeetingDocumentId=1749
CVRD Regional Cowichan Housing Association Annual Financial Contribution Service Referendum Question
“Are you in favour of the Cowichan Valley Regional District adopting “CVRD Bylaw No. 4201 – Cowichan Housing Association Annual Financial Contribution Service Establishment Bylaw, 2018” that would establish the Cowichan Housing Association Annual Financial Contribution Service and annually requisition $765,000 for the service?”
CVRD Regional Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service Referendum Question
“Are you in favour of the Cowichan Valley Regional District adopting “CVRD Bylaw No. 4202 – Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service Establishment Bylaw, 2018” that would establish the Drinking Water and Watershed Protection Service and annually requisition $750,000 for the service?”
On Jun 8, 2018 I attended a CVRD – Stewardship groups Workshop as the chairperson for the Saltair Water Advisory Committee (a volunteer group). In a recent communication with CVRD CAO Brian Carruthers he informed me that the CVRD has hired a consulting firm
“We have been working with Lanarc (many of you met David at the workshop) who has come on board to help us communicate the merits of the proposed program to help inform the public about the referendum question. Fortunately David has a lot of experience supporting the RDN program and had suggested a follow up survey which on reflection really focused on trying to pull out a lot of information we already had in hand to build a long term strategy. At this point this is outside of the scope of what we are doing until such time as we have public approval to do so. We want to make sure we focus our efforts on telling people what we see as being covered under this new service.
Since the meeting a few things have changed, notably the Board has decided to put forward two referendum questions in the fall so we are in the process of ensuring that the communication of these proposed services are unified and cohesive. We are in the process of developing communications materials, backgrounders and other communications tools (like the blog that was suggested) and will be rolling them out shortly after the August 8 Board meeting when the agenda question is formally set. We are in the process of scheduling public presentations and workshops across the region for September and early October again we will share those dates with you asap after the August 8 meeting.”
I am planning on attending the 8 Aug CVRD Board meeting and will send out the results of the Board Directors motion for the referendum questions to be passed along to others on Thetis. When I see the dates for the public presentations and workshops I will pass them along.
Lynne Smith