I hope the council will be looking at where they can cut costs - it's what the private businesses are doing right now.The average home owner cannot afford anymore increases. Taxes for my home have increased by over $800 over the last years. Increase have happened every year since I bought the house and now the council is talking another 3.4%. Go back to the drawing board and come up with a better budget. Question every cost and make sure it is necessary

"...$70 thousand dollars for a leadership program."?

Is that for our leaders?

maybe the mayor and council should have taken leadership training before running for election...now we have to pay to train them.

Renovations????? This can WAIT until better times! Sigh! And the crap continues and meanwhile more gouging to come from the utilities. On the news last night they said BC Hydro has applied for an immediate increase of 13% and they also want another 13%come fall. Natural Gas wants 11%, city council wants 3.4%, groceries increased dramatically when the gas prices where sky high and never reduced & gas prices are going back up. Have I missed anything? Will it ever end?

So the word from our political leaders is that we need to stimulate the economy by encouraging consumer spending. Yet from the other side of their collective mouth, they are calling for tax and fee increases. If our discretionary funds are continually whittled away in such a manner, we will not be able to "stimulate" the economy at all.
I want some of their drugs so my world will look just as rosy!

Betcha murdering drug dealer gangsters don't have to worry about this economy stuff. They just drive around in their expensive vehicles wondering where and when the next surprise lead injections are gonna come from. Me? I'll worry about the economy.

Yes Harbinger ...is it not nice of society to let the drug dealers and gangs run their organisations tax free? We are so lucky to be among the honest hard working tax payers who are taxed to death. :}~

"requesting an enhancement of $150 thousand to start the architectural drawing for renovations."

Is this a renovation or an addition?

All City departments budgets should be cut by a minimum of 5%. No exceptions., This would be easy to obtain, and would set the ground work for further decreases next year.

The time of unlimited spending and tax increases has to come to an end.

Why cant the Mayor and Council get it right. Are they incompetent???

I for one am sick and tired of Municipal tax gouging, and also sick of the Liberals and all their attendent BS. Its quite possible that for the first time in my voting life, I might take a rain check.

Blackmailing me to vote Liberal so that the NDP cannot get elected is wearing thin. The Liberals have had sufficient time to bring forth commprehensive programs etc;, however it seems they excel in BS. Maybe its time to kiss them goodbye.

The present ;problem with gang killings and high crime rates are a direct result of the Provincial, and Municipal Governments sitting on their collective asses and not taking any action over the last 10 to 15 years, which allowed crime to get out of control.

Because they didnt want to prosecute the criminals, and give them lenghty sentences in jail, they are responsible for the conditions of to-day.

They are now asking communities and citizens to work closely with the Police to help solve the problem.

Kind of late, I would say.