Letter: Kamloops council must hold the line on spending

Editor:

I find that some on city council tend to pat themselves on the back too much instead of attending to the work they were elected to do.

For instance, why do we have to keep up with the Joneses, like Kelowna, Penticton and Vancouver?

Let’s work for our own community and establish our own identity.

I find that the city is always coming up with new projects and not able to maintain the ones already built, going over budget on some and raising our taxes, instead of holding the line now and then.

My wife and I are both pensioners and have lived in Kamloops for 11 years.

Projects like the underpass to Valleyview (well over budget), maintenance of Westsyde Pool, demolition of the Boys and Girls Club (and no plans for it), purchase of the Kamloops Daily News property at an outrageous expense for the city are just a few examples.

Also, why is the city awarding staff pay raises without a challenge, just because Vancouver’s wages are at that level? We do not have that population.

Have councillors driven our city streets and seen the bad shape they are in?

Council was elected to safeguard the taxes that we have to pay and not put us in a deeper hole.

My net taxes were in excess of $5,000 this year.

I am a 76-year-old and my pension doesn’t increase, save for minor additions to my CPP and Old Age Security.

Kamloops council needs to hold the line for awhile.

Bill Gallant

Kamloops