Skip to content

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: City budget doesn’t fit with wishes of taxpayers

Reserves should be kept for emergencies, not to pay for someone’s wish list, says letter writer
24152536_web1_210210-NBU-letter-city-budget-1_1
Nanaimo City Hall. (News Bulletin file photo)

To the editor,

As the City of Nanaimo council are now sitting back and congratulating themselves on their wonderful, fair budget, the taxpayer gets to dig deeper into whatever saving accounts we may have to pay the increase in taxes and user fees.

They talk about having users pay for more of the cost of services but not all services. If you want to go to the pool and swim you should pay more. If you no longer want to share the roads or sidewalks but have your own bike-only paths, that should be free. If you drive a car or motorbike or have a dog you have to pay for a licence, but if it is a bicycle it is free. If you have a ‘pet’ project that you do not want to include in this year budget for whatever reason, you just take the money out of the reserve fund and no one on the council seems to care.

The taxpayers care because unlike the council we believe the reserve fund is real money, that real taxpayers worked hard for and should be held in reserve for emergencies, not to pay for someone’s wish list.

Terrence Wagstaff, Nanaimo

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Municipality’s bike lane budget debated


The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin.

Letters policy: Letters should be no longer than 250 words and will be edited. Preference is given to letters expressing an opinion on issues of local relevance or responding to items published in the News Bulletin. Include your address (it won’t be published) and a first name or two initials, and a surname. Unsigned letters or letters specifically addressing someone else will not be published.

Mail: Letters, Nanaimo News Bulletin, 777 Poplar St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 2H7

Fax: 250-753-0788

E-mail: editor@nanaimobulletin.com