Directors and staff at the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) all have a few more grey hairs, but the stress, long meetings and exhaustive budget process have been worth it.
Although the final numbers were still being crunched as we penned this editorial, the budget is effectively ready, with a slight average tax increase across the board.
The almost-zero per cent tax increase is owing in part to large service cuts the SCRD made in December, eliminating almost all recreation programming that takes place outside of the SCRD's five recreation facilities: the two arenas, two pools and Dakota Ridge.
The SCRD reduced hours at both landfills and the SCRD's Pender Harbour satellite office, cut staffing in recreation, parks and planning and made cuts to grants-in-aid to community groups.
Another reason for the zero increase in tax rates is a new approach the board has taken to building the budget: begin with a base line budget and add to it, rather than start with all ideal services and projects built in and whittle down from there.
Budgets are never easy, especially at the municipal level. And these cuts were probably not too popular with everyone, but compared to last year, when the board was faced with a more daunting task of cuts to services and recreation, this year the SCRD has done their due diligence to present a budget that meets the needs of its citizens, doesn't cut in too many areas and, above all, doesn't hurt its citizens in their back pockets. Remember last year when the SCRD was faced with a 30 per cent tax increase, service cuts to HandiDART and the Gibsons pool? Citizens were understandably upset, so this year directors and especially staff should all be given credit for their hard work, for thinking outside the box and meeting the challenging economic times with a budget that shows some forward thinking and planning for the future.
Coast champion
Kyla Richey from Roberts Creek has the heart of a champion. She is now a part of something special in Canadian volleyball history - a three-time national champion and part of a team that has won 40 consecutive games. It's beyond perfection - it's staggering. We've followed Richey's career at Roberts Creek Elementary, Elphinstone Secondary and now UBC. She's a tireless worker, is passionate about her sport, her teammates and her school. It's wonderful to see her achieve so much success after so much hard work. We're proud to call her one of our own. She is truly a Coast champion.
