It's decision time on the recreation issue.
As Coast Reporter went to press Thursday afternoon, the Sunshine Coast Regional District was about to begin debate on the future of recreation facilities for the region.
Gibsons mayor Barry Janyk called this "probably the most important vote I've had to make at the SCRD board in six years."
Two new facilities have been proposed: an aquatic centre on Block 7 in Sechelt, estimated to cost $8.5 million, and an ice rink and community centre at Brothers Park in Gibsons, estimated at $10.5 million.
Time is short. The Town of Gibsons has set a target date of June 25 for a referendum on the proposed community centre. To meet that deadline, the SCRD board must give three readings to the borrowing bylaws by the end of March.
After years of debate and several failed referendums, there are now two main options on the table. The first, which has been dubbed "sub-regional," would have the entire Coast, except Pender Harbour and the islands, pay for building and operating both new facilities, as well as paying the operating costs of the old Gibsons pool and Sunshine Coast Arena.
Under the second option, which might be called "north vs. south," only the taxpayers in Gibsons, Elphinstone and West Howe Sound would pay for the community centre in Gibsons. Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay and the Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) would pay for the new Sechelt pool.
Adrian Belshaw, regional director for Roberts Creek, said his area would participate only in the "sub-regional" scheme. If the SCRD opts for the "north vs. south" scheme, Creekers will not vote in either referendum and will not pay for either facility.
Sechelt councillor Ed Steeves, who is also chair of the SCRD board, thinks the sub-regional referendum is the way to go.
"It'll be the greatest thing. Two pools, two arenas, no competition because of coordinated management: it's a very positive thing," he said. "And the great thing about the tax structure is, no matter where you live, you pay the same tax."
Under the "sub-regional" scheme, every property owner would pay a flat parcel tax, estimated at $127, plus an ad valorum tax of about $60 per $100,000 of the assessed value of the buildings and other improvements on the property. The idea behind this tax scheme is to avoid penalizing waterfront property owners and others whose land values have soared although they may be living in a modest house.
Under the "north vs. south" scheme, the parcel tax in Gibsons, West Howe Sound and Elphinstone would be about $193 and the ad valorum tax would be about $56 per $100,000 of improvements. Sechelt, Halfmoon Bay and the SIB taxpayers would pay a parcel tax of $107 and an ad valorum tax of $79 per $100,000 of improvements.
Janyk sees the question differently, as an issue of "financial peril" versus "voting peril." While his constituents would pay higher taxes under the "north vs. south" scheme, Janyk believes the question of cost must be weighed against the value of self-determination for the Gibsons area. He fears the "sub-regional" referendum would be unclear to voters and might be defeated despite its lower tax rates.
'I really want the referendum to be successful," said Janyk. "This is an opportunity I really don't want to squander."
