Sooke will join with Colwood to initiate a review of Capital Regional District services.
Two recent announcements of diverting resources from existing programs to support new initiatives at the CRD raised concern with Colwood council and called into question why the municipality was paying into programs if they no longer serve a purpose.
“It is very concerning to think that taxpayers in our region are being billed for services that are not being provided, or that funds for specific programs are being arbitrarily directed to an unrelated service,” said Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton.
Colwood council directed its staff to investigate the feasibility of a CRD service review with other municipalities, chief administrative officers and the CRD.
Sooke council welcomed the review.
“It’s timely because there’s no harm in putting the lanterns on those services to find out what we’re paying for,” said Coun. Rick Kasper, who is Sooke’s alternate director on the CRD.
“My experience has been that there are perhaps some things that we shouldn’t be doing on a regional basis, but there are also things, I think, we should be doing.”
Added Coun. Kerrie Reay: “The [CRD] provides a great service but there could be a way to be more financially in tune with the changing times.”
Last year, Sooke collected $2,879,989 on behalf of the CRD.