Social housing: Why aren't costs shared fairly across the region? (continued)
The Capital Region District Regional Housing Trust Fund (CRD RHTF) provided $620,000 towards the project. Those funds are acquired via the annual CRD requisition to municipalities. This is a fair way of acquiring public funds for projects such as this.
However, when Saanich and Victoria provide additional funds, they are giving twice. Once through the RHTF, and again via direct grants.
Apparently no direct funds are provided by Esquimalt, Oak Bay, View Royal or other regional municipalities.
Single parents are part of every community, but only Saanich and Victoria give twice.
The Times Colonist reports that Victoria pays 28.1% of the CRD RHTF total. Victoria City staff recommended that Council approve $420,000 in addition to the annual RHTF requisition.
Council, after much debate, opted for $172,262, which matches Saanich’s planned contribution for the facility to be built on West Saanich Road in Saanich. Saanich will likely provide a tax exemption on the property as well.
Victoria council then decided to increase its offer to $297,000, if Saanich agreed to do the same.
This post is about fairness in sharing regional costs. Victoria and Saanich are already contributing via the annual RHTF, based on their respective adjusted tax bases. Then they are giving a second time. In fact, Saanich should give more than Victoria, because Saanich's population is almost 30,000 greater and proportionately more single parents would originate from Saanich.
But the point is, other regional municipalities should also be either providing direct grants, or they should increase their annual contribution to the RHTF to provide sufficient funds for worthy causes such as housing. They should not expect other municipalities to pull beyond their weight.
Kudos to Victoria Council for taking the high road; the challenge is out to Saanich to match Victoria’s offer, and for other regional municipalities to contribute their fair share.
A better regional governance model could solve problems like this, and improve fairness in how community services are funded to Greater Victoria.
- Colin Nielsen
The Capital Region District Regional Housing Trust Fund (CRD RHTF) provided $620,000 towards the project. Those funds are acquired via the annual CRD requisition to municipalities. This is a fair way of acquiring public funds for projects such as this.
However, when Saanich and Victoria provide additional funds, they are giving twice. Once through the RHTF, and again via direct grants.
Apparently no direct funds are provided by Esquimalt, Oak Bay, View Royal or other regional municipalities.
Single parents are part of every community, but only Saanich and Victoria give twice.
The Times Colonist reports that Victoria pays 28.1% of the CRD RHTF total. Victoria City staff recommended that Council approve $420,000 in addition to the annual RHTF requisition.
Council, after much debate, opted for $172,262, which matches Saanich’s planned contribution for the facility to be built on West Saanich Road in Saanich. Saanich will likely provide a tax exemption on the property as well.
Victoria council then decided to increase its offer to $297,000, if Saanich agreed to do the same.
This post is about fairness in sharing regional costs. Victoria and Saanich are already contributing via the annual RHTF, based on their respective adjusted tax bases. Then they are giving a second time. In fact, Saanich should give more than Victoria, because Saanich's population is almost 30,000 greater and proportionately more single parents would originate from Saanich.
But the point is, other regional municipalities should also be either providing direct grants, or they should increase their annual contribution to the RHTF to provide sufficient funds for worthy causes such as housing. They should not expect other municipalities to pull beyond their weight.
Kudos to Victoria Council for taking the high road; the challenge is out to Saanich to match Victoria’s offer, and for other regional municipalities to contribute their fair share.
A better regional governance model could solve problems like this, and improve fairness in how community services are funded to Greater Victoria.
- Colin Nielsen
