Council Holds Rare Wednesday Meeting
Prince George, B.C. – It is not usual practice for Prince George City Council to hold a meeting in the middle of the week, but that is exactly what is planned for this evening.
On the agenda, approving the selection of the people who will make up the Council remuneration committee. This committee is tasked with making a recommendation on whether or not Council should get a raise. The striking of the committee in the last year of the current council’s term is a legal requirement as outlined in a bylaw.
The financial report for the city will be presented. This is the report which outlines the dollars and cents spent on salaries and expenses for staff and Mayor and Council. (see previous story)
The meeting this evening will also receive an update on the plan to make 4th A venue a two way street. Seems the bid for the project is over the budgeted amount. Staff will present a plan to make up the difference.
Council will be asked to request a renewal of the Hotel Room Tax. That’s the tax which adds 2% to the cost of accommodation. Last year, the tax proceeds were just over $740 thousand dollars, which can be used for tourism and marketing programs.
Staff will return a report on the request for a permissive tax exemption from the developers of the Global Logistics Park. The report recommends the request be denied.
Comments
I guess if this committee recommends another raise, anyone on council voting for it may as well not run again.
Considering that council had made numerous decisions this year and then turned around and rescinded them… I don’t think they deserve a raises… they wasted a lot of time and taxpayers money.
They just look totally incompetent to
me…..
They need a raise to cover their increases in taxes and fees. Come on folks you don’t expect them to struggle with a fixed income.
4th Avenue seems to be working OK. Maybe they should just leave it alone and save us a pile of money.
Seems everyone wants to get tax exemptions. Where will the money come from to pay the bills. Oh Yeah; regular taxpayers.
$740,000.00 per year for tourism and marketing is a lot of money. Especially when you consider that tourism in Prince George is basically drive through traffic to some other destinations.
No more raises would be a good starting point for Council, and the same should apply to Management and Administration.
The last paragraph says it all. The global logistics park wants a tax break. Why? Well there is one downtown for example. Any development in town is good, right? That is the whole problem with the 10 year tax exemption downtown.
Agreed. We need to stop giving away tax breaks and exemptions like it’s no big deal. Those costs always have to be picked up somewhere else.
One will not be able to read the real legal costs by the city when it comes to the Lawyer who was hired from the south in regards to the civic employees strike. That amount will be on next years.
For transparency this city should be separating and noting the various legals fees – not in one lump sum.
If a court case is held this year and the city is required to pay the $900,000 in the lawsuit or a default order from the court the taxpayers will not know.
Comments for this article are closed.