A Modest Proposal:   Recent headlines which show local EI applications up by over 40%, local welfare applications up by over 40%, and bankruptcies rapidly increasing, provide a prime opportunity for city council and staff to provide real leadership, real hope and real local stimulus.  A prudent use of the 2008 budget surplus (estimated at between 3 and 5 million dollars), discretionary reserves (estimated at $22 million dollars), and some belt tightening in the annual budget would allow Nanaimo's 2009 property tax increase to be held to 0 (zero) percent without seriously impacting our reserve situation.  [If $750,000 represents 1% on the property tax, holding the budget increase to 0 percent requires only a small fraction of the sum represented by these three sources.]   Such a move would offer significant benefits to our community.  It would provide a fiscal stimulus as the millions of dollars saved on our property taxes would be available to support our local businesses and our citizens in their efforts to survive in a harsh economic environment. It would provide a major bragging point as we could expect to be one of the few, if not the only, community in BC to meet the recession so boldly.  It would give heart to citizens who feel that City Hall has lost touch with those who it represents.  And it would aid us in establishing a more realistic five year plan as our existing plan is based on an economic environment that no longer exists.    Now is the time to grasp the bull by the horns and begin the lifestyle changes that we will all be forced to make in the next few years.  If this makes sense to you, contact your Council and encourage them to act on your behalf.

 


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