Smart Governance at Lake Country

Today's "Growth Eases Lake Country Taxes" story in the Morning Star is an all around good news story.
The area's growth -- the fastest in the province -- is a boon to council projects.

Mayor James Baker and his council agree "Why would we go for a property tax increase (originally proposed to be 2.85 per cent) when we can do what we need to do with what we have?"  And "there are more (private) assets and more people paying."   Development cost charges will cover it instead.

So what makes Lake Country's Mayor and council smart?

Because they're levying a parcel tax of $125 to each household to pay for Transportation for Tomorrow projects.

That makes them smart?

Nope.
The clincher is that with 5,000 parcels in Lake Country, the parcel tax treats all properties equally, including agriculture.

There ya go...there's the smart part.

"Unlike GVW here where agriculture pays bugger all," says Kia, adding "which leads to the public eventually demanding change."

 

Smart...all around us.
Pity.