EDITOR,
Squamish's citizens just got another increase in our property/utility taxes.
Boy, was it interesting to read in this week's Squamish Chief newspaper that $11,800 was budgeted to allow officials to travel to Japan, thus allowing Mayor Rob Kirkham to go on a junket to Shimizu, Japan in the fall! Now, is this really necessary spending of taxpayer dollars? We have been sister cities since 2003 with Shimizu, Japan. What have we gained from this financially?
Then I read further on in the paper that there are two new positions available with the District of Squamish and also temporary full-time positions as recreation program leaders.
Yet, where we really need to spend taxpayer dollars is on theinfrastructure - that is continually breaking down, such as the sinkhole in the Squamish River dike in Brackendale!
Instead of going on junkets to Japan and hiring more people to the DOS, spend our taxpayer dollars wisely on infrastructure! We could also actually cut back on a lot of DOS staff, since we are far over-staffed here in Squamish.
I totally agree with Douglas R. Day - letter to the editor, this week: "Tax hikes decried": "reduce staff costs to a more affordable level."
Suzanne Kirkman
Squamish
