As a serial entrepreneur, since I was 10 years old, I have been working on budgets, cash flows, and business plans from a young age. I’m proud to say I have never had to pay interest on credit cards and have brought the same mindset to my term on Council.
Once on Council, I was surprised to find out that keeping taxes low was done at the expense of our Asset Management – maintaining roads, and pipes and planning for large infrastructure investments was delayed or never contemplated. The Comox Valley Water Treatment Project was originally estimated at less than 50 Million dollars, but lack of planning and action allowed this estimate to balloon to over 100 Million dollars. As Chair of the Water Committee, I traveled to Victoria and Ottawa to ensure our project received the maximum grant possible to keep municipal taxes low for our citizens.
I have also attended Provincial and Federal conferences to lobby the senior levels of government for a more sustainable funding model for Municipalities. Although Municipalities receive less than 10% of tax dollars, the vast majority of taxes are spent at the Municipal level. Municipalities are then forced to compete with each other to complete critical projects in their communities.
I’m proud of the fact that we are moving forward with long overdue projects while only raising taxes in Courtenay by 1.5% this year – lower than the increase in the cost of living. There is still lots of work to do and as your Mayor, I will introduce a 10 Year Budget and Strategic Plan while lobbying our Province and Federal Governments to ensure sustainable funding for critical projects in our community.
Municipal government cannot control every factor affecting the economy, but it can create the conditions for businesses to invest, expand and succeed through clear processes, reliable infrastructure and informed economic development.
I am running for re-election because Courtenay and the Comox Valley are entering an important period of change, with major housing, infrastructure, public safety, economic and regional projects requiring experienced and consistent municipal leadership.
The Anderton Riverbank Restoration is an opportunity to address failing infrastructure while restoring a significant section of the Courtenay River shoreline and creating a safer, more resilient and enjoyable riverfront for the community.
Protecting Courtenay’s urban forest means finding a practical balance between preserving mature trees, planting for the future and accommodating the housing, infrastructure and neighbourhood growth our community needs.
Climate resilience means preparing Courtenay’s infrastructure, neighbourhoods and natural systems for flooding, drought, extreme weather and other risks before those events become emergencies.
The Comox Valley’s existing RCMP detachment is more than 40 years old and facing significant operational and building deficiencies, making it important for local governments to begin planning now for what comes next.
Safer streets are about giving everyone—drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, children and people with mobility challenges—a transportation network that allows them to move around Courtenay safely and efficiently.
Property taxes have increased as Courtenay faces rising costs for essential services, public safety and ageing infrastructure, making careful budgeting, asset management and outside grant funding increasingly important.
Courtenay’s new East Courtenay Fire Hall is designed to improve emergency response times, increase volunteer firefighter capacity and provide greater resilience as the city continues to grow.
Responsible asset management means maintaining and replacing Courtenay’s roads, bridges, pipes and public facilities before they fail, helping reduce emergency costs and protect taxpayers from much larger expenses in the future.
Courtenay has expanded its bylaw enforcement capacity to respond to growing community concerns, using education, voluntary compliance and enforcement when necessary to help keep neighbourhoods, parks and public spaces safe and enjoyable.
Policing is one of Courtenay’s largest municipal expenses, making it important to understand what the City pays for RCMP services, how policing priorities are established and why public safety decisions have significant implications for taxpayers.
Thanks Mayor Elect Nicole Minions and Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for working together to get the Province to recapitalize the Island Coastal Economic Trust.