Bella Coola Valley residents continue to push back against the steep, 61 per cent tax hike they experienced in 2023.
About a dozen residents held a peaceful protest outside the Central Coast Regional District (CCRD) monthly meeting held on Thursday, Jan. 25. Some demanded a 50 per cent tax rollback in 2024 and the resignation of the CCRD chief administrative officer (CAO) Curtis Slingerland who was hired in February 2022.
Several residents spoke during the public input portion of the meeting or peacefully protested outside the building.
Protesters held signs stating: 50% Property Tax Rollback! Commit or Quit, Over Spending, Clear Published Job Duties for all Staff Commit or Quit and Clear and Accounted for Use of Corporate Credit Card Commit or Quit.
Black Press Media learned last year residents went from paying $727 in 2022 to $1,716 in 2023.
In a livestream video of the meeting, Cora Lindley Hunter was one of the residents who demanded the 50 per cent rollback and the CAO’s resignation.
She told the board that residents of the valley have repeatedly stated their concerns about “an unacceptable increases in property taxes, excess hiring of CCRD staff, lack of transparency of board decisions regarding record keeping, hiring, firing, and the uncontrollable and indiscriminate spending of our tax dollars, blatant rudeness and disregard for residents’ concerns demonstrated by the board and CAO.”
She said residents have made their concerns known through letters, emails and face-to-face meetings, petitions, public surveys, public meetings and personal presentations at board meetings.
She also criticized the fact that Slingerland does not live in the valley.
“We the people demand the immediate resignation of the CAO, if not, then the board of directors modify the CAO’s contract by cutting his wages, credit card and expense account.”
CCRD chair Jayme Kennedy told Black Press Media there is no way they could do a 50 per cent tax rollback.
“We have increased costs because we are being required to do more.”
The CCRD is asking the province for $5 million to stabilize the landfill service in the future and library services costs have increased by 20 per cent, she cited as examples.
“We are keeping our budget as low as we possibly can,” she said.
Kennedy also said it was unfortunate the CAO was being targeted.
“I am so glad that he has a thick skin and has responded with grace through the allegations being thrown at him,” she noted in an emailed response. “The board is responsible for the hiring and firing of the CAO and we are quite satisfied with his performance. When the board was recruiting, Mr. Slingerland was hands down the most qualified person.”
Kennedy said there was no other suitable candidate that was willing to relocate to the region and could handle the workload and pressure that a CAO faces.
“Previous staff members have expressed that if they could have done their job remotely, they probably would not have moved on, but the pressures in the community were unbearable. I would very much appreciate that if members of the community have specific incidents where our CAO acted inappropriately then, by all means, please contact me.”
Colleen Fraser commended the board for trying to keep the tax hike to zero per cent in most categories for 2024, but asked why not in the operations category.
“Please take another close look at what you can do here, especially in regard to wages and expense accounts.”
She thanked electoral Area E (Bella Coola) director Jim Ward for declining his travel expense stipend, saying “every little bit helps.”
“The current funding model is not sustainable with the number of properties that are currently being taxed to pay for what needs to be paid for,” said Randy Brooks, who appeared as a delegation. “I think that is the primary issue that is not being addressed.”
Brook said if that is dealt with and discussed openly with all parties involved the community can move forward.
Chair Jayme Kennedy said the board, CAO and staff continue to lobby the provincial government for help.
“We are advocating that the system is broken for us as far as funding goes. We are too small and we cannot give the best services with the structure that is in place,” Kennedy said.
She said the CCRD has been trying to get the province to help make it more affordable for property owners.
Kelly Nestegard said the board has created a policy and bylaw that makes it virtually impossible to meet the requirements to speak for 15 minutes [as a delegation]. He also complained the board has waited five months to host a public meeting about the budget.
Brian Lande suggested the CCRD should only send one or two people from the CCRD to attend the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities Conventions.
“You have to cut costs and it’s a good way to cut costs,” he said.
Kathy Nylen expressed concern about money being allocated for the hiring of a local fire service coordinator.
She also said the public feels disrespected at the meetings.
“The CAO turns his back, hands out business cards and the directors are looking at their phones and computers,” she said.
While delegations have 15 minutes to address the board, the public input time is only two minutes, which some of the people addressing the board said is not enough time.
Kennedy said there as no public input before and the board added that in recently.
“It needs some work. Two minutes goes by really fast, but it is an improvement.”
Chris Matthews chairs the newly-formed Valley Taxpayers Alliance, and said the group formed with a mission to build relationships and see a leaner government with more efficiencies.
Matthews also called for the CAO’s resignation so the “taxpayers can move on.”
Echoing Hunter, he said if the CAO does not step down then his salary and expense account should be cut.
It’s not great when seniors are having to borrow money to pay their taxes, Matthews said.
“We will not stand idly by.”
Sunder Green described it as a turning point, saying it is a great opportunity for the community to work together.
“A lot has landed in your laps,” she told the board. “A lot has changed in provincial and federal government. We also had the COVID chaos.”
She encouraged everyone to listen a little more, really come together and change how things are done.
“This is unique place. We can be local. We can talk to each other.”
Green suggested the formation of a citizens advisory committee.
“You can hear how eager people are. I just want to encourage us all. There are a lot of feelings out there. They do want do do something about it and they represent a whole bunch of people who aren’t here.”
A draft budget was presented at the Thursday meeting proposing an average 5.5 per cent residential taxation increase.
Slingerland said the board cut an additional $23,000 from the budget and the tax implications will be updated in the coming days to reflect the cuts.
“While the meeting started off with a number of individuals taking part in public input, it went smoothly, people were heard, and the budget has been amended and put forward for pubic consultation. It was great seeing a few people stay for the whole meeting,” he told Black Press.
Residents can view the draft budget on the CCRD’s website.
There will be a public open house for the public to give feedback about the budget on Feb. 13 from noon to 7 p.m. at the CE Centre at Emmanuel United Church, 650 Cliff Street, and an online meeting Feb. 12 beginning at 2:30 p.m. meeting on Microsoft teams through a link at ccrd.ca.
It has to be approved by the end of March.
Kennedy encouraged residents to reach out to their electoral area directors with any concerns or questions.
“We are going to continue to improve our communication and work on producing a newsletter so we can keep everyone up to date with our information,” she said.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated from the original to show that the CCRD has asked the province for $5 million to stabilize the landfill service in the future not close the landfill.
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