Langford council has taken a bold step to pressure other West Shore Parks and Recreation Society owners into re-evaluating the societyB次元官网网址檚 governance model and cost distribution formula.

Rather than sending the society another notice of concern over those issues, council ultimately decided to reject the societyB次元官网网址檚 proposed 2017 budget after careful consideration at MondayB次元官网网址檚 meeting. The document requires unanimous approval from all of the societyB次元官网网址檚 owners.

Ed Watson, society chair and one of MetchosinB次元官网网址檚 community representatives, said Tuesday of the rejection, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 not a complete surprise,B次元官网网址� adding that the funding formula B次元官网网址渉as been somewhat controversial for years.B次元官网网址�

Last year Langford council approved the societyB次元官网网址檚 budget, but served notice the City would not support B次元官网网址渁nyB次元官网网址� budget for 2017 unless there had been a meaningful change made to the governance of the owners committee, one that redistributed costs amongst the owners and resulted in a reduction of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 contribution.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e spending more money on recreation out here than any other municipality,B次元官网网址� said Langford Mayor Stew Young. B次元官网网址淭hey get to use our facilities with no taxation charges whatsoever.B次元官网网址�

Jim Bowden, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 chief administrative officer, noted that was the discussion at the owners meeting roughly 10 months ago. B次元官网网址淭he owners recommended we undertake a study to determine whoB次元官网网址檚 using what facilities. The CAOs have been trying to work on that B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檝e looked into it and the study will cost about $200,000 and we donB次元官网网址檛 believe thereB次元官网网址檚 any sense in us doing that.B次元官网网址�

All five West Shore municipalities and the Juan de Fuca Electoral District make up the societyB次元官网网址檚 ownership. Although, Watson noted, the latter has expressed an interest in no longer being involved.

B次元官网网址淧ut the increase on the others,B次元官网网址� Young said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 need to do the dog and pony show for $200,000 to tell us that weB次元官网网址檙e paying more than everyone else.B次元官网网址�

Councillors initially fought to find ways to approve this yearB次元官网网址檚 budget, while still putting pressure on the other owners. Young suggested council send a letter listing all of the recreation amenities the City is paying for in Langford, which are open to all West Shore residents. To balance out that added expense, he noted, other West Shore municipalities should cover more of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 contribution to the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society.

Coun. Lanny Seaton pointed to the skatepark project the society is moving forward on. With a $10,000 bill being considered for the design stage, Seaton was concerned Langford would be hit with an even bigger bill by the end of the project and suggested that it be funded equally by the owners instead of based on a percentage.

But ultimately, council decided not to approve the budget. If the budget is not approved unanimously by the end of February, as outlined in the operating maintenance and management agreement between the owners and West Shore Parks and Recreation Society, the previous yearB次元官网网址檚 budget would carry into the current year.

A municipalityB次元官网网址檚 share is determined by a funding formula that takes into account population size and assessment values. The societyB次元官网网址檚 proposed budget for 2017, according to a Langford staff report, sought an increase of just under $77,800 (up roughly 1.5 per cent from 2016) in municipal requisitions. However, LangfordB次元官网网址檚 requisition increased by more than $81,000 (3.25 per cent) and the report stated that discrepancy was due to LangfordB次元官网网址檚 higher growth rate than other municipal contributors. But due to that growth, the proposed 2017 budget would actually mean a decrease of about $0.11 in cost to the average Langford-based tax payer.

Colwood Coun. Rob Martin, who sits on the board, noted any new capital projects B次元官网网址� even if funded by reserves B次元官网网址� would be in jeopardy as there would be no new budget process to approve them and they would not be included in last yearB次元官网网址檚 budget.

While this will be a bump in the road, Martin said it does not reflect the boardB次元官网网址檚 opinion of West Shore Parks and Recreation. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e highly efficient,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very proud of West Shore Parks and Recreation.B次元官网网址�

While being forced to use the 2016 budget will have an impact, Watson added, he didnB次元官网网址檛 expect facility users would see any difference in service. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e (just) going to have to sharpen our pencils a bit.B次元官网网址�

As for the owners group, he noted they are separate from the board that makes operating decisions. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been talk B次元官网网址� (but) it requires them to get into a room,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t really is up to the municipalities to come up with a solution.B次元官网网址�

katie@goldstreamgazette.com