qathet Regional District has voted to direct staff to increase the tax rate for the regional park service by the appropriate amount in order to provide $183,000 of funding for the parkland acquisition reserve fund in the 2020 tax requisition.
On discussion of the motion at the January 30 regional board meeting, Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall said he believes the regional board should commit to developing a policy in the coming year on how to choose properties, how to partner with local groups, plus management of the properties.
“I’m really happy with moving forward but we need to have that policy in place, probably before we actually purchase something,” said Fall.
City director George Doubt said he believes the regional district needs a policy before it starts collecting money from people. He said he would be bringing forward a notice of motion quite soon to create a parkland and greenspace acquisition policy.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he was curious, because this has to do with the budget, why this wouldn’t be handled by the regional district’s finance committee. He said the way the motion reads, the regional board is directing staff to allocate $183,000 for funding a parkland acquisition reserve fund, but, if through public engagement and the finance process, the public asks for more to be put in, this amount could change between now and the end of March, when the budget is adopted.
“I’m wondering why this wouldn’t be a bit more fluid and dynamic at the finance committee level,” added Gisborne.
Chief administrative officer Al Radke said Gisborne was correct that the public will still have the opportunity to comment on the initiative and that the amount may change. He said the regional board was the proper place to elevate the initiative.
Regional directors passed the recommendation.
If the proposed $183,000 parkland acquisition levy is included in the regional district’s 2020 budget, it adds about $3.25 per $100,000 of taxable value.
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