The district is feeling the pressure of downloading from the province and feds, says Mayor Ian Sutherland. At the Chamber of Commerce New Year address luncheon Friday (Jan. 11), Sutherland described to a roomful of local business representatives council's struggle to come up with funds for newly-imposed municipal projects at a time when the area is already reeling form the loss of Woodfibre pulp mill.
When the mill announced it was closing in late 2005, it was providing 20 per cent district's tax base, and $1.8 million per year in property tax.In the coming year, Sutherland said new property tax from developments such as Wal-Mart will have restored the district's income stream. In response to criticism development is turning the town into a bedroom community, the Mayor pointed out that those who do not work in Squamish often find their own ways to give back.
"We can't automatically say that people who work in Vancouver aren't good volunteer contributors to the community."
He added that some people with jobs in the city choose to come to Squamish but have no intention of switching careers whether or not there are opportunities in town.But the recovering tax base does not mean the town is prepared to cope with government downloading. This year the district is allotting about $700,000 toward diking projects.
"That's money that used to come from the province or the feds," said Sutherland.The district is in a similar bind when it comes to funding social services such as the Squamish Food Bank. He said it is hard for the town to say no to a valuable service when it is in dire need of help.
"Odds are you're going to give them the money to run that food bank," he explained.
He said the municipality, like many others across the country, will need help from the feds if it is to repair its aging sewer and water infrastructure. As it stands, the district must apply for money on a case-by-case basis, often with the condition of fronting a third of the money needed before the application process begins.
"There needs to be a better system in place where we can have a constant and reliable source of revenue," Sutherland said. He also defended his relationship with federal Conservative candidate John Weston, saying he talks to all people with a voice including MP Blair Wilson and MLA Joan McIntyre."I think that our relationships with Ottawa and Victoria are so important."
He ended his talk by advising community members following the upcoming November municipal election not to limit their focus to the mayoral race.
"I know the mayoral race gets a lot of attention but at the end of the day it really is seven people who make up the body."Sutherland has not yet announced whether he will be running in the upcoming election.
