Recreation, tourism and culture were identified by many at last week鈥檚 town forum as key drivers for economic development in 亚洲天堂 Lake. But without sound infrastructure and a pleasing overall visitor experience, it can be difficult to capitalize on the interest that either brings to the 亚洲天堂 Lake community.
Both sides of the infrastructure equation - the infrastructure that draws people here and the infrastructure that keeps them here or at least makes their experience something they want to repeat or recommend to their friends - are capital intensive.
It鈥檚 a chicken and egg scenario. Do you invest heavily in the assets that draw people to the region through trail development and municipal amenities, or do you focus on support for local businesses and people through infrastructure revitalization and upgrades to the assets that keep people here and serve village residents?
The case was made for both approaches last week. What鈥檚 interesting is the strong grounding in fact proponents for either view have.
Putting aside the question of recreational or cultural assets, the everyday needs of village residents have to find their place in the equation as well. As Mayor Strimbold pointed out, the first function of the municipality is to provide services for 亚洲天堂 Lake residents.
The tax base is limited in 亚洲天堂 Lake, and property tax rates in town are a little higher than other municipalities in the region, largely the result of no significant industrial tax base compared to Houston, Fraser Lake, and Vanderhoof.
亚洲天堂 Lake faces some fiscal challenges in the coming years, mostly in terms of major infrastructure upgrades. Replacing the aging water tower within a couple of years will be a $2 million undertaking, and rebuilding Eighth and Centre streets as early as next year could mean a substantial tax hike for all village residents if funding for the project comes solely from municipal borrowing.
Municipal borrowing can have the effect of constraining future budgets. The money has to be paid back and every budget for the 25 years following big borrowing will feel that constraint.
Of all the ideas floated last week at the town hall, one of the most interesting was the idea of having the municipality more involved with strategically supporting the blooming outdoor recreation and cultural capital in the Lakes District.
To be sure, this does stretch the municipality in a way that takes it outside its primary mandate as a service provider, and cautionary voices were heard regarding the village making financial commitments which take it too far beyond its mandate.
But the village has already extended itself through village recreation and economic development, and the cooperative relationships it is fostering between local recreation groups to develop area-wide recreation tourism strategies.
But 亚洲天堂 Lake is its people - especially its taxpayers. Many will see the village鈥檚 one-time million dollar dividend as an opportunity for the municipality to either save for a rainy day, or to use in offsetting significant upcoming local infrastructure upgrades.
I don鈥檛 envy town council the decision it has to make regarding the community forest funds. It鈥檚 not like there鈥檚 one iron-clad case to be made for a specific cause.
One thing we can be sure of is that heavy borrowing will constrain the municipality鈥檚 future ability to contribute to economic development through recreation and culture. It would be helpful to know what the cost of borrowing could mean to the village鈥檚 ability to drive economic development.
Would area recreation and cultural groups be keen on seeing some of the community forest money going towards offsetting infrastructure tax burden if it meant options for long-term stable municipal support (either in terms of cash or services) for local recreation and culture groups?
