Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

City has an appetite for debt

The City of Prince George never seems to have sufficient money to look after our roads or infrastructure, however they don't seem to have any problem borrowing huge sums of money for their special projects, which result in further tax increases and f

The City of Prince George never seems to have sufficient money to look after our roads or infrastructure, however they don't seem to have any problem borrowing huge sums of money for their special projects, which result in further tax increases and further debt. The average cost of debt servicing from 2012 to 2015 will be approx. $14 million per year. The city has borrowed huge amounts of money in the past five to 10 years, for projects like the Cameon St. Bridge, police station, community energy system, office building on 18th and Ospika and River Road 2010. In addition we have increases in taxes, garbage, we spent $6.5 Million on Boundary Road, and we are being taxed to the tune of $15 Million for the 2015 Winter Games.

The city now wants to borrow another $3.5 million for further work on River Road. ie; A dike. They have obtained $5.4 million from the Fed/Prov. Governments, they will take $2.75 million out of the land reserve fund, and spend an additional $11.6 million on River Road, for a total expenditure of $18.6 million plus interest over the past three years.

We need to stop this foolishness. The consultants report indicated that the possibility of a flood would be once every 90 years. Even if we did get a flood, with the upgrade to River Road in 2010 to the 200 year flood plain, and the installation of drainage etc.; the City stated that flooding would be minimized. So why spend more money? Lets see if the 2010 upgrade will work.

In order to borrow the $3.5 million the city needs the approval of taxpayers. We need 5,231 signatures to force this issue to a referendum, so that at the very least we get to vote on this borrowing.

I urge all the citizens of Prince George who are over the age of 18 to obtain this petition, and have their famly members friends, and acquaintances sign and force this issue to a referendum. To do nothing allows the city to continue o borrow with impunity. The completed form must be returned to City Hall by April 24. You do not have to be a registered voter to sign the petition.

If people have trouble getting the form please feel free to call me at 250-564-4531 and I will ensure that you get a copy, and I will ensure it gets back to City Hall.

Eric Allen

Prince George