The tax bill cometh

The tax bill cometh

This past week, property owners on Gabriola started to receive their notices informing them what their specific local tax bills are this year. Every local government tax bill is up this year. Islands Trust increased 5.9%. Regional District of Nanaimo increased 8.6%....
The tax bill cometh

Spring Cleanup

The tradition of cleaning up Gabriola’s ditches, park trails, and other public spaces has had ups and downs over the past number of years. When there was still a Ratepayers Association, there would be an annaul day for people to pick up trash, and leave the bags by...
The tax bill cometh

No extra sailings for Gabriola

We’re into the summer now. But there won’t be any changes to Gabriola’s schedule. That story here. No extra sailings to alleviate summer traffic. Instead, BC Ferries encourages those riding ferries to do so during non-peak hours. The issue: Gabriola’s peak hours for...
The tax bill cometh

Keep calm, and ferry on

The busy season is upon us. More people will be on island, the lineups will be longer, and we’ll see people doing silly things (like illegal u-turns) in the ferry line. Things could get messy – and will require us all to practice patience with those less...
The tax bill cometh

Ferries need feedback loop

BC Ferries has launched a new engagement process for coastal communities to provide feedback. Large systems like BC Ferries need to have feedback from the people who depend on their system. Especially when there are few people at the top of the company who don’t...
The tax bill cometh

Ratepayers 2.0

This has been, for local taxpayers, a year where every local government is increasing taxes to support ever increasing budgets. The Islands Trust increase was finalized at 5.9%. The Regional District of Nanaimo increase will be 8.6%. The Hospital Board increase will...