Survey results show that Squamish residents believe active transportation, affordable housing, climate adaptation and fire rescue should be the Top 4 investment priorities for the municipality.
The results were presented to council on Oct. 22 by District communications director Christina Moore.
Between Sept. 25 and Oct. 15, residents gave 166 complete responses, an additional 71 people responded, but didn’t finish the survey all the way through.
Concerning how to fund Brennan Park Recreation Centre improvements, the method that garnered the strongest support was a $6 per person or $10 per family annual membership. People would pay the same flat fee regardless of how many or little programs are used.
About 55 per cent of respondents said they would “strongly support” it.
The next most supported method was hiking user fees and rental rates by up to five per cent. Forty per cent of respondents said they would “strongly support” that move.
The least popular method was a one-per-cent property tax increase. Only 30 per cent of people said they would “strongly support” it.
When asked to pick three things that deserve increased funding, recreation, active transportation and affordable housing — in that order — were at the top of the heap.
There were 494 responses related to this question.
“Recreation got 59 mentions and the majority of those were related to a new recreation centre,” Moore said.
Other recreational spending ideas included facilities such as tennis courts, fields and programming, she said.
When asked to pick three things that deserve funding cuts, municipal bureaucracy, development and bike lanes and trails were the Top 3. There were 221 responses to this question.
“Not dissimilar to other budget surveys and engagement, there is a perception that the District is too large,” said Moore.
People called for cuts to municipal pay, benefits and staff, among other things, she said.
