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Mistake in numbers

Letters

Controversial words from members of the community relative to my statement in the Sooke News Mirror, Aug. 31, 2011, are meant to make it seem as if I can’t count. I can count and I can understand just fine. I will always ask questions and make proper investigations. I can also clarify things that seem murky or questionable. So sometimes after saying things and hearing things more questions need to be asked.

I invite you to see money amounts broken down into proper portions so you can understand. Tax revenues, grants and park reserve funds are of great importance in openly discussing project costs in and with the community. Casino funds are grants from the province to the District of Sooke. These were indeed awarded by the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

After all grants, including a casino grant of $235,000 and in kind monies are calculated, District of Sooke taxes are paying $300,000, out of $1.74 million for the boat launch.

I was mistaken in reporting park reserve funds had been used in our land purchase.  They were to be used and this changed, so there would be no conflict on property of common use with Prestige. The Park Reserve Fund is where some amenity contributions go and all monies from selling park land go.

I was not mistaken in my use of the term grant relative to the purchase of land for our boat launch.  A casino grant of  $325,000 was awarded. We paid $600,000 from our tax base to equal $925,000, $900,000 is our total cost to Sooke taxpayers for land, dock and boat launch, worth $2,665,000.

I do not mind being corrected, there is no misery in not being right.  Proper is honest and we honestly need as much as we can get to make our community strong.

To claim that taxpayers are paying for everything every time there is a payment no matter where the money comes from is confusing. Clarity is what we need in our society and here it is… listen to who you want to. Enough of the bad mouthing of responsible people.

I’ve done the measuring of the parking spots.  All of these spots exceed expectations and are up to par with the exception of a 29’ spot that measured 28’. The rest are bang on or over.

Moonfist-Myke

Colbert

Sooke