KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAChilliwack Council unanimously passed the 2015 budget last night, but not before a lengthy public hearing. City Hall was almost full last night and more than a dozen people got up to speak to the financial plan. One councillor who was quite vocal about the budget a couple weeks ago was Sam Waddington. Last night, he voted in favour of the 1.49% tax increase despite questioning previously whether having the lowest taxation in the lower mainland was the best thing.

“I must say that the work of previous councils and staff in past years have got us to this enviable position.  I don’t claim to look at re-creating the wheel here…we’re in an amazing position here in Chilliwack.  I think the citizens should know that.  We have the luxury of having a very modest tax increase and yet still providing a high level of service.”

The budget passes every year without barely any fanfare, but there was at least a lengthy discussion this year about the way the city spends its tax dollars.  Councillor Chuck Stam credits Waddington for starting a discussion about spending.

“We had a public hearing (this evening) that was probably the best attended public hearing in the last 15 years that I’ve been in this chair. I have to thank Councillor Waddington…that was a brilliant comment to bring people out.  I mean that with all due respect…it brought people out, it connected people from different groups, and it got people discussing the budget…something that hasn’t happened in a long time. These things used to be over in 10 minutes.”

Two weeks ago, Waddington questioned a plan in the budget to spend $6.5 million on a new curling facility. He later clarified his view that he has no problem with curling…he simply wasn’t sure if it was the best way to spend that money. There were plenty of curlers in the audience last night, although the discussion was respectful and most spoke in favour of the plan. Chilliwack Curling Club President Bruce Renwick spoke at the hearing, and said the club is open to making it a multi-use facility.  He also spoke about the benefits that curling brings to the community, and it was noted that while the building itself is taxpayer funded, the club has operated at zero cost to the city.  Brent Bogart with Chilliwack Minor Baseball wondered if more money could be spent on his sport, and council and staff told him they were open to the suggestion and could look at improvements to facilities down the road.

The tax increase will mostly be used for policing and fire services, but the city has also budgeted for road improvements, a 3rd sheet of ice at Twin Rinks, and an expansion of city hall.  One of the people who spoke to council last night was former mayor and MLA John Les, who had some interesting comments on downtown revitalization. He thinks too much gets spent on it, and there’s not enough return.

“Downtown is an important place for sure…it was once the very core of our community.  That can’t really be said today.  If you’re from Yarrow, or Rosedale, or Promontory, or the growing community of Garrison Crossing, you may never visit downtown…but you are paying taxes.  It once was on the Trans Canada Highway, but that Highway moved in the 1950’s and it had a profound impact on our community.  I think we just need to let go of the nostalgia a little bit.”

He also said the city should find money to expand the road up Promontory because traffic is getting worse. He suggested they could get some of that money by selling homes in the Panorama subdivision that the city agreed to purchase for $18 million in 2009, when it was found that they were built on a slow moving landslide. Mayor Sharon Gaetz disagreed with that idea and said they have received no legal advice on that matter.

Overall, the budget discussion last night was conciliatory, and the general feeling was that the city is managing taxpayer dollars well, by installing modest increases and using a pay as you go philosophy.

But council was clearly surprised, albeit pleasantly, to see people show up for the public hearing…as evidenced by Councillor Sue Attrill taking pictures of the crowd for posterity.