Re: Development Cost Charges
Consultant Fraser Smith expects Sooke to grow 3.7 per cent annually for the next 10 years and recommends a variety of deliberate decreases in developmental charges.
I believe this to be a bad idea that has me asking ‘why?’ and can we honestly afford this?
Cuts of four, five, seven and 13 per cent may appear to be the way to reduce the product cost, fueling the Sooke will grow a bigger, faster treadmill, but it also reduces Sooke’s annual operating income.
I had hopes that we had adopted a pay-as-you-go policy, improvements being made as we can afford them. Unnecessarily reducing building costs may benefit a few, but would also, no doubt, return us yet again to everyone’s property taxes rising to cover the yearly unforeseen shortfalls of income.
Thank you for your efforts on our behalf, I am yours sincerely,
O.B. Whiting
Sooke