Another year, another year of questions and answers!
In the 1980s the Whistler Question began posing a question to three to six people and publishing their responses under “Whistler’s Answers” (not to be confused with the Whistler Answer). Each week, we’ll be sharing one question and the answers given back in 1984. Please note, all names/answers/occupations/neighbourhoods represent information given to the Question at the time of publishing and do not necessarily reflect the person today.
Some context for this week’s question: Council adopted a budget on January 16, 1984 that raised taxes by 11% for residential property owners and commercial property assessments by about 15%. The budget still needed to be approved by the provincial government and would not be finalized until May. According to council and the municipality, the increase in revenue was necessary to increase expenditures in three areas: municipal grants (to Whistler Resort Association, an evening shuttle bus service, and as a share of a recreation coordinator salary), park maintenance and fiscal services.
Question: What do you think of the 15 per cent overall increase in municipal taxation council is asking for?
Al McElwee – Tow Truck Driver – Emerald Estates
How, if the government turned down the request for us to go over the six per cent restraint guideline for finishing the municipal hall, ice rink and convention centre, can the municipality raise taxes by 15 per cent? For a few of the new businesses here it’s kind of a bang-up.
Nell Den Duyf – Housewife – White Gold
Nobody likes to see their taxes going up, but everything else is going up. It was one of the election promises that last year taxes would go down, and it came through.
Pam Adams – Housewife – Alta Vista
It seems a bit excessive. We seem to pay an awful lot as it is. Things have to increase but it should happen gradually, not all at once. And it’s not just the taxes, it’s the number of people we’re supporting at municipal hall.
WHISTORICAL 