As a resident of the West Shore, I want to thank Colwood council for their due diligence regarding the proposed RCMP building.

There is no question in my mind that this building is necessary, but there is also no question that taxpayers’ interests need to be protected and that the project needs to be managed well.

How can taking the time to ensure they have all the information and to get an outside opinion from an expert in their field be a bad idea?

The project has massive implications for property tax increases on the West Shore that nobody seems to be talking about. And if there are cost overruns, the local taxpayers will be on the hook for 100 per cent of these.

We have heard vague mentions of applying for grants, and yet Langford and View Royal have already supported borrowing the entire $103 million with essentially zero input from their residents.

So kudos to Colwood (who also knows the project is necessary) for wanting to have the reassurances and information necessary before giving the final approval. I wish other councils had protected their residents’ interests as well.

David Screech

View Royal

It has been reported that the Township of Esquimalt is considering a 13 per cent tax increase. Folks, don’t be fooled. This enormous tax increase is an example of the “bait and switch” con.

How does it work? Council publicly announces a potentially outrageous tax increase to raise the blood pressure of what they consider to be gullible voters, then they come back with a 9.9 per cent increase, believing the voters will jump for joy at this surprising reduction and accept this as a win.

The fact is that anything beyond the reported cost-of-living increase is totally unacceptable. The so-called deep pockets of the taxpaying public are empty.

E. David Hodgins

Esquimalt

Cairine Green of Oak Bay wrote to express sadness that the Victoria Symphony Splash may not return this year.

She mentions that the arts bring us together and that they mean a lot to “our community’s well-being,” as well as to “our local tourism industry.” I note she lives in a city that is not Victoria.

If we were an amalgamated city, I would........

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