Newsletter May 8, 2023: Conflict of Interest and Excessive Property Tax Increases.
News:
Finally, a CRD Municipality has recognized that a Local Government’s membership in a lobbying association could be a conflict of interest. The District of Saanich has decided not to renew its membership to the “Premier voice of the Development and Real Estate Industry”, the Urban Development (Lobbying) Association (UDI).
During Saanich Council‘s UDI membership cancellation discussions, a Saanich Councillor was quoted as stating that, “Council’s membership in the UDI could be a seen as a conflict of interest. Council really needs to remain an unbiased body and demonstrate equity and transparency through the choices we make.”
A Times -Colonist article said it best:
“The potential power of leverage involved by having the development lobby is a threat to the democratic process, which according to the word represents the power of the constituents, whose lives are directly impacted; not that of industry, whose interests first and foremost are those of profit.”
Amid protests, Langford Council approved a 12.1 % record-breaking 2023 tax increase with projections of 11.68%, 9’5%, 9% and 8.5% increases in subsequent years (Times Colonist Reporting)
This is the result of Langford’s vaunted and apparent claim to fame, CRD leading development and population increase. According to Councillors more services, staff and amenities are needed and this is “reflective of the growth of the Community.”
Langford City Hall has been picketed for weeks by residents protesting these exceptionally high tax increases and, the impact on living expenses in today’s inflationary times. It is clear that Langford’s past Councils did not see to it that their Municipalities development and population growth sustained its property and business tax base. Langford’s taxpayers must now suffer the consequences.
Lessons learned? Oak Bay Council take note.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Oak Bay Watch and residents for a number of years now have pointed out to Councils, without success, that the District’s Urban Development Institute (UDI) membership is a conflict or perceived conflict of interest. Nevertheless, Oak Bay Councils have continued to hire fellow member UDI Companies for their densification initiatives. This is despite the community’s conflict of interest concerns and the UDI consultant's highly criticized reports, surveys and community engagement processes.
To compound the problem, we have asked the District a number of times why Oak Bay’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, a senior staff member since August 2019, continues to be listed as a CRD representative to the UDI however, we are still awaiting a reply.
It seemed to us that Oak Bay residents do not benefit when Council:
HomeA primary problem, in addition to the many other negative impacts of not ensuring growth is sustainable, is Secondary Suite and Infill development does not provide the necessary property tax revenue to maintain the infrastructure impacts or, the required increases in services, staffing and amenities.
This revenue shortfall is big part of the reason many BC (and CRD) municipalities, that have permitted rapid development and population growth, have had the largest property tax increases.
On the other hand, most of Oak Bay’s Oak Bay Council’s recent year’s excessive tax hikes, as well as 2023s record breaking 9.1% property increase, has been due to an administrative staff and consultant hiring spree and, a massive infrastructure deficit.
Now that the writing is, on the wall, or should be, the questions are: what benefit has the District’s UDI membership been and, what will the new non-revenue secondary suite and infill population impacts be on the District and on Oak Bay’s tax base? Newsletters
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“Nothing is inevitable if you are paying attention” Oak Bay Watch
Oak Bay Watch is a volunteer community association and its members have a variety of professional backgrounds in both the public and private sector.
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well-informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Keep informed and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
News:
Finally, a CRD Municipality has recognized that a Local Government’s membership in a lobbying association could be a conflict of interest. The District of Saanich has decided not to renew its membership to the “Premier voice of the Development and Real Estate Industry”, the Urban Development (Lobbying) Association (UDI).
During Saanich Council‘s UDI membership cancellation discussions, a Saanich Councillor was quoted as stating that, “Council’s membership in the UDI could be a seen as a conflict of interest. Council really needs to remain an unbiased body and demonstrate equity and transparency through the choices we make.”
A Times -Colonist article said it best:
“The potential power of leverage involved by having the development lobby is a threat to the democratic process, which according to the word represents the power of the constituents, whose lives are directly impacted; not that of industry, whose interests first and foremost are those of profit.”
Amid protests, Langford Council approved a 12.1 % record-breaking 2023 tax increase with projections of 11.68%, 9’5%, 9% and 8.5% increases in subsequent years (Times Colonist Reporting)
This is the result of Langford’s vaunted and apparent claim to fame, CRD leading development and population increase. According to Councillors more services, staff and amenities are needed and this is “reflective of the growth of the Community.”
Langford City Hall has been picketed for weeks by residents protesting these exceptionally high tax increases and, the impact on living expenses in today’s inflationary times. It is clear that Langford’s past Councils did not see to it that their Municipalities development and population growth sustained its property and business tax base. Langford’s taxpayers must now suffer the consequences.
Lessons learned? Oak Bay Council take note.
Oak Bay Watch Perspective
Oak Bay Watch and residents for a number of years now have pointed out to Councils, without success, that the District’s Urban Development Institute (UDI) membership is a conflict or perceived conflict of interest. Nevertheless, Oak Bay Councils have continued to hire fellow member UDI Companies for their densification initiatives. This is despite the community’s conflict of interest concerns and the UDI consultant's highly criticized reports, surveys and community engagement processes.
To compound the problem, we have asked the District a number of times why Oak Bay’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, a senior staff member since August 2019, continues to be listed as a CRD representative to the UDI however, we are still awaiting a reply.
It seemed to us that Oak Bay residents do not benefit when Council:
- Uses their property tax dollars to send District staff to UDI meetings, conferences and luncheons.
- Uses fellow UDI member companies as consultants for their Secondary Suite and Infill densification Initiatives.
HomeA primary problem, in addition to the many other negative impacts of not ensuring growth is sustainable, is Secondary Suite and Infill development does not provide the necessary property tax revenue to maintain the infrastructure impacts or, the required increases in services, staffing and amenities.
This revenue shortfall is big part of the reason many BC (and CRD) municipalities, that have permitted rapid development and population growth, have had the largest property tax increases.
On the other hand, most of Oak Bay’s Oak Bay Council’s recent year’s excessive tax hikes, as well as 2023s record breaking 9.1% property increase, has been due to an administrative staff and consultant hiring spree and, a massive infrastructure deficit.
Now that the writing is, on the wall, or should be, the questions are: what benefit has the District’s UDI membership been and, what will the new non-revenue secondary suite and infill population impacts be on the District and on Oak Bay’s tax base? Newsletters
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Nothing is inevitable if you are paying attention” Oak Bay Watch
Oak Bay Watch is a volunteer community association and its members have a variety of professional backgrounds in both the public and private sector.
*******Please help us continue to provide you with information about Community concerns and Council decisions and actions. Oak Bay Watch members also help community groups with their specific development concerns. Donate to Oak Bay Watch - even $5 or $10 dollars provides expenses for door- to- door handouts and helps us maintain our website. Oak Bay Watch is committed to ensuring the Community gets the full range of information on budget, governance and all key development issues – a well-informed opinion cannot be made without this.
(Please use Donate Button at bottom of oakbaywatch.com Home Page)
Keep informed and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.
Keep informed and sign up for our newsletter – bottom of Newsletter Menu Item.