The inflation rate for British Columbia from March 2014 to March 2015 was one per cent. Now Oak Bay’s mayor tells us that our tax increase is 5.1 per cent, more than five times the rate of inflation.
Every year the tax hike has been much higher than the inflation rate, and this cost compounds. We, the residents of Oak Bay, deserve a clear explanation from our council of why this is. We need to know what percent of the budget is wages and benefits for all staff so that we understand what is left to pay for everything else.
Perhaps we should stop all this talk of densification and live as we are now and within our means. Oak Bay is fine how it is, that is why we love living here. More people means more services, etc. and the costs far outweigh the benefits.
Patricia M. Coulter
Oak Bay