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Langford and West Shore | 2022-2026 municipal term discussion


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#661 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 17 February 2024 - 06:01 AM

Langford Coun. Keith Yacucha says his wife and two young children were “traumatized” after he confronted a man critical of council who was allegedly taking photos through the windows of his home late last month.

 

The incident on Jan. 29 on Luxton Road was the subject of a news conference on Wednesday by Mayor Scott Goodmanson and four councillors, where the mayor said the current council is facing increasing hostility.

 

The targeted councillor was not named at the news conference, which came on the heels of a protest over tax increases the night before in front of city hall.

 

But on Friday, Yacucha, an economics professor at Camosun College, told the Times Colonist he was the councillor involved.

 

Yacucha did not attend the 20-minute gathering because of mid-term examinations at the college, but said the point had to be made “that a line was crossed.”

 

“You can come to city hall and protest, you can send emails, go on social media … but don’t show up at my home, don’t intimidate my family. That’s going too far,” Yacucha said in an interview.

 

Yacucha reported the incident to West Shore RCMP, who said they investigated and determined that although the behaviour was concerning, no criminal act had been committed.

 

The confrontation took place on a public sidewalk on Luxton Road in front of Yacucha’s home. Yacucha said his wife and children were not home at the time and he was leaving on his bike to meet them at a local recreation centre.

 

Langford resident Scott Perry called in to a CFAX Radio talk show Friday morning and identified himself as the person in front of Yacucha’s townhouse complex, but insisted he was only in the area to visit a friend and did not take pictures of the councillor’s home.

 

Perry has been a vocal critic in council meetings and on social media since the new council took power after the 2022 civic election.

 

During a council meeting last March, Perry was asked to keep his comments to the agenda multiple times, but continued speaking. He was asked to leave city hall by the city’s director of corporate services, who then told bylaw officers to remove him.

 

Perry told CFAX on Friday he was coming back from Slegg Lumber just after 5 p.m. on Jan. 29 and was going to visit a friend who lives in the same area.

 

After parking his vehicle and walking along the sidewalk, Parry said he was confronted from behind by Yacucha who was on his bike.

 

___________________

 

Goodmanson said Wednesday the city was “at its most divided” and called on former Mayor Stew Young to help heal the divisions, but the plea through the media had the opposite effect, with Young saying he had no intention of interfering with what he called people’s right to free speech.

 

 

https://www.timescol...is-home-8322010


Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 February 2024 - 06:01 AM.


#662 Mike K.

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Posted 17 February 2024 - 07:36 AM

Hard to believe cooler heads cannot have prevailed here.

The way the press release insinuated it was a female councillor who was the target of this activity made the situation feel much worse than perhaps it may have been had it been a male councillors. That the former mayor was named, but not alerted to being part of the press release, made this whole situation much worse, too.

Whatever is going on in Langford is the worst side of bantam level politics. We need these officials to be focused on roads and low taxes, not trying to change society.

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#663 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 17 February 2024 - 07:39 AM

Whatever is going on in Langford is the worst side of bantam level politics. We need these officials to be focused on roads and low taxes, not trying to change society.

 

:judge:

 

Yup, but who the F put these clown in charge in the first place?


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#664 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 05:44 AM

Langford property-tax hike rises to 15.6%, with amenity funds no longer offsetting increases

 

Previous councils had used the general amenity fund — money paid by developers and intended for public projects like parks and other improvements — to keep tax rates low for property owners
 
 
 
 
The initial plan last month proposed an 11.79% increase, but council voted to jack the rate even further after deciding not to use amenity funds to soften tax hikes now and into the future.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 07 March 2024 - 05:45 AM.


#665 phx

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 08:26 AM

I wonder what they will be using the amenity fund for...



#666 Mike K.

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 08:28 AM

My guess is it'll go to a lot of consulting, and alternative transportation investments.


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#667 Ismo07

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 09:01 AM

I wonder what they will be using the amenity fund for...

 

If development is slowing as reported the amenity fund may drain....  Do they say what it's at?



#668 Mike K.

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 09:21 AM

You ebb and flow with the revenues. You don’t overspend when projections are for less revenue.

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#669 Ismo07

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 09:30 AM

You ebb and flow with the revenues. You don’t overspend when projections are for less revenue.

 

So maybe the amenity fund is too low to use?  What you are saying makes sense and is what I was getting at.  If develop is so low now, what is coming into the fund that can be used to pay down taxes.  I actually am not sure if it was legal to do in the past.  Would have to read the bylaw for that fund, but for the most part those bylaws are pretty specific to what the fund can be used for.  Maybe it is in there that it can be used as a 'slush' fund but that's not typical...


Edited by Ismo07, 07 March 2024 - 09:32 AM.


#670 spanky123

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 09:49 AM

This has been an issue with many municipalities. In order to keep taxes low, reserve funds were used to offset potential taxes increases. Problem is that now that cities actually need to start fixing roads, water mains, etc there is no money available.


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#671 Ismo07

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 11:09 AM

This has been an issue with many municipalities. In order to keep taxes low, reserve funds were used to offset potential taxes increases. Problem is that now that cities actually need to start fixing roads, water mains, etc there is no money available.

 

I don't know if it's many, like I said reserve funds have a bylaw and are very specific.  This amenity fund that was created may not be considered a reserve fund.  It sounds like it was a fund for council to use as needed...  Increase development fees and start a slush fund.



#672 dasmo

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Posted 07 March 2024 - 01:04 PM

In 2022 Langford made $40,000,000 in taxes. More in other revenue streams. Their assets went up almost $50,000,000 in one year to $648,997,144 in assets. They aren’t hurting after all the BS that has caused crushing inflation. We are. They should GFTS with taking more money from us….
https://langford.ca/...-Financials.pdf
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#673 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 17 March 2024 - 03:26 AM

Langford is hiring eight new staff and reorganizing other positions after a review by an independent consultant.

 

The staffing increases and structure changes at city hall have already been approved as part of the 2024 budget, and account for a 1.32% increase in property taxes.

 

Langford has set the highest tax increase in the region at 15.6% and is expected to formally pass the bylaw on May 6.

 

The review by James Ridge identified new positions for public safety, increased demands from provincial policy changes, objectives outlined in the council’s new strategic plan and general staffing requirements to maintain service levels in a rapidly growing city.

 

The recommended changes also address organizational risks associated with emergency planning, contract management and human resources.

 
 
 

“While I recognize the challenging nature of this year’s tax increase, I am confident that the new staff and organizational structure changes will better ­support the needs of residents, while taking bold action for future generations,” Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson said in a statement.

 

“The changes will allow the city to achieve strategic objectives, continue with current service levels and maintain the city’s longstanding corporate efficiencies.”

 

The city said even with the additional positions, it remains lean compared with other similar-size municipalities.

 

 

https://www.timescol...-review-8455513



#674 Nparker

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Posted 17 March 2024 - 05:24 AM

Nothing good ever comes when governments take "bold actions".🙄

 



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