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Oak Bay letter: Taxpayers foot the bill for multiple municipalities

Here is something to think about as you pay your municipal taxes at the end of June

Here is something to think about as you pay your municipal taxes at the end of June.

In the Capital Region we have 91 elected mayors and councillors, 13 city halls, seven police chiefs, 13 fire chiefs, 13 city administrators, and 13 planning departments.

Using the data provided by the province for the 2012 fiscal year, the average annual municipal taxes collected by the 13 municipalities in the Capital Region were $883 per capita.

The City of Surrey is the same size as the Capital Region and has a total population about 25 per cent higher. It has nine elected mayors and councillors, one city hall, one police chief, one fire chief, one city administrator, and one planning department.

In 2012 the municipal taxes collected in Surrey were $488 per capita.

In Oak Bay, in 2012 the municipal taxes collected were $946 per capita.

The mayor and council of Oak Bay have decided to protect their fiefdom and to deny you an opportunity to have a vote on municipal amalgamation.

Your role has been reduced to paying the bills.

Earle Anthony

Oak Bay