The 2009 Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) budget - with tax increases and little change to services - passed March 26 amid consternation from board directors.
The budget passed in a 7-1 vote, notably with District of Sechelt director Mayor Darren Inkster voting against the budget.
Inkster was instructed by Sechelt council to take the message and "nay" vote back to the SCRD after Sechelt passed a motion March 18.Inkster stressed his vote was based on the wishes of his council.
"Let's be clear - I am appointed here by my council and affirmed by my council and they give me instruction on a number of issues. The [Sechelt council] vote was unanimous on this issue. I do not support the budget that's been presented," Inkster said.
He said because Sechelt has a higher demographic of citizens on a fixed income compared to other electoral areas, he could "not support the $117 increase from the SCRD level that will be coming to our taxpayers."
Inkster also said he was concerned about the cost of general government at the SCRD and hoped that next year, the taxpayers of Sechelt would be more included in the budget process.
Other directors voted to approve the budget, but not before taking some time to make their and their constituents' concerns heard.Gibsons Mayor Barry Janyk said his council was divided on the budget and would support it, but sent a strong message of financial prudence for 2010.
"My council will reluctantly support this budget but, next year, we expect to see financial scenarios with zero per cent being just one option," Janyk said.
He included a list of concerns about the SCRD's operations, citing waste disposal, Dakota Ridge and recreational facilities, each needing to bring in more revenue and to be run more efficiently. He added that targeting recreational facilities in Gibsons for closure or reduced hours was not an appropriate response.
"Lacking services at the older centres was never anticipated or agreed to in the euphoria of the pre- and post-referendum world," he said.Other directors echoed Janyk's concerns over waste, Dakota Ridge costs and the recreation budget.
West Howe Sound director Lee Turnbull said this year's budget had caused her more "angst and worry" than any budget she has worked on in the past and said several of her constituents voiced opposition to the area's 14 per cent tax increase.
Turnbull inquired about making some amendments to the budget to bring down the tax rate before tax notices are sent out.
"Even one or two per cent would indicate, to me, an effort to be somewhat responsive," she said.
Halfmoon Bay director Garry Nohr brought forward several suggestions for next year, including more involvement from municipal governments to prevent future losses of consensus in the budget. He added that landfill tipping fees could be adjusted according to the time of the year, as the last six months of the year tend to have lower usage of the landfills. Lower use of the sites in the last two years left the SCRD with a $400,000 deficit to be made up in this year's budget.
"One year it's the weather, the next year it's the economic climate. We can't afford to keep doing this," Nohr said.
Directors Eric Graham, Pender Harbour Egmont, Lorne Lewis, Elphinstone, and Tom Paul, alternate director for the Sechelt Indian Government District, each supported the budget.
Board chair Donna Shugar acknowledged the common concerns of the board and stressed the board should strive for consensus on the budget next year.
"We all share the same concerns. I don't think there's anybody sitting here in this room that likes this budget. Everybody's expressed how hard we and staff worked to get where we are," she said. "My main concern is how do we move forward?"
John France, SCRD chief administrative officer, told the board the time for changes to the budget had passed. He added that the budget's transparency should make it clear no more cuts could be made without harming services.
"The beauty of our budget process is its transparency. You get right in the trenches. You see how the services are delivered. You see the staffing plans. There's nothing to be discovered at this point other than second guessing," France said.
