Let me propose an idea, many will not agree with it, but it could be good for Squamish.
With all the continuous discussion of the rising cost of living in Squamish, affordable housing, limited employment opportunities, and endless tax increases, people are overwhelmed.
The municipality does not have endless revenue to fulfill all the needs or desires of the community. Residents shouldn’t be burdened with constant tax increases for ill-conceived planning and revenue management.
With the growing population, there is a desire for more housing options, a new fire hall, city hall, high school (s), and Brennan park upgrade, all of these will cost money the District of Squamish doesn’t have. Surrey spent $150 million on a city hall, in West Vancouver a new city hall cost $37 million. New Westminster has plans to open a new high school in 2020 at an estimated cost of $106 million that will accommodate 1,900 students. A new elementary school in Surrey that will hold 605 students will cost approx. $25 million and be done in 2020.
The current Brennan park upgrade proposal is $55 to $92 million. Prince George estimates a new pool would cost $35 million. Smithers built a new ice rink for than $5 million. DOS operates with a budget of about $47 million and has expenses of $44.5 million.
Pretty tight. The DOS should purchase Quest University to fulfill some of the needs of the community. With 700 students who pay up to $50,000 a year, it’s not clear why the University is having financial trouble, ending sports programs, and [was] in a legal dispute with DOS. The campus has enough facilities to accommodate a city hall, high school, elementary, has recplex, library, residences that could become DOS owned affordable rental housing, space for a new fire hall, a new ice rink, and pool.
The existing city hall, library, high school, fire hall, Mamquam and Squamish elementarys, could all be sold for development to fund the purchase of Quest and cost of new buildings needed. With a stipulation that affordable rental units are developed in the sale of the lands This scenario could be financially better for the DOS, shorten the timeline to bring community amenities to Squamish. All I ask is look at the numbers, the cost to the community, the needs of many versus the few currently at Quest.
- Rob Weys
Squamish
