Backlash over City’s borrowing plans, tax increases

Mar 7, 2019 | 3:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — A new Facebook group is looking to send a message to the City.

In just a couple days, over 600 people have joined the Enough Already! City of PG AAP Facebook page. It refers to the Alternative Approval Process, which is used for public engagement about a proposed action council looks to move forward with. This specific group is concerned with a $32 million borrowing plan and constant tax increases to which page admin Phil Beaulieu wants more transparency.

A detailed report on the City’s debt situation, which will include why the City is looking to borrow $32 million, will be presented at the March 11th council meeting. For council, these plans and tax increases can be a difficult pill to swallow, but also a necessary one. City Councillor Kyle Sampson referred to the recent 3rd Avenue water main break as an example of why sometimes a tax increase is essential to infrastructure in Prince George. He also wanted to be clear on council’s willingness to listen to the public’s concerns, citing public hearings as an important part of any process.

As for the Facebook group page, work is currently being done towards Electoral Response Forms. It hopes to submit enough to force the City into putting projects that would need the roughly $32 million in borrowed funds to another means of completion, be that via referendum or just having the projects followed through on without borrowing money.