Editor:
I would like to tip my hat to the Optimist editor, Ian Jacques, for his editorial (Nov. 30) on the increased property taxes.
The survey that Delta wanted its citizens to fill out was meaningless. The only thing they provided was reams and reams of numbers and no written explanations as to why certain departments had such substantial increases and there were many substantial increases. This lack of transparency and limited time for comment leads me to believe that the budget was a foregone conclusion and council was just going through the motions.
As for the special levy of two percent for recreation facilities, that should have been put to a referendum. As Mr. Jacques pointed out, Delta council should be actively going to the provincial government to fund those types of improvements. This council seems to take for granted that the taxpayers of Delta just represent a limitless pot of money, but I guess that shouldn’t surprise me as this is the same council that increased the mayors salary by 13.5 percent and the councilors salaries by 18.5 percent with no public consultation.
This needs to end.
Glen Evans
