Next council has to get fair deal
Dear editor: Penticton has an interconnected symbiotic relationship with its satellite communities.
Business people that own businesses in Penticton receive a favorable rate subsidized by Penticton residential taxpayers. If they choose to live in Penticton they pay residential taxes either directly or through their rent and receive subsidized business taxes.
If they live in the satellite communities they receive a subsidized rate from Penticton residential taxpayers and then they go home to the satellite communities at night and do not contribute to the recreational infrastructure they most likely use as part of their family.
The business community has four groups servicing its needs: The chamber; DPA; Travel Penticton; and the industrial park group.
These groups lobby council and are catered to by certain councillors and/or the mayor even though many of these business people receive subsidized tax incentives and do not support recreational infrastructure as do residential living business owners.
If business owners work in Penticton and live outside in the satellite communities they benefit as Penticton supplies them with the ability to make a living. Yet Penticton residential taxpayers are forced to subsidize their use of our recreational services. They ride free on the backs of Penticton citizens that pay the brunt of the costs.
Compare this to those that live, own businesses and work in Penticton and support the recreational services in town.
Some satellite citizens will be upset with these comments. They think if they come to town to shop Penticton taxpayers should be grateful and subsidize their use of other services. Yet many young families living in the satellite community appreciate the use of this recreational infrastructure and would gladly support it but their wishes are ignored by vote-hungry directors anxious to be re-elected no matter the cost.
Regional districts were formed to remove the obligation that the province had to manage the outlying rural areas. By banding them together and including the largest city it was expected that the regions would work as one to the betterment of their communities as a whole. This is not working for Penticton.
The regional district only works when it works for everyone. The model is not sustainable when Penticton is used as a suckling pig by the satellite communities. The time comes when the burden becomes too heavy and it is time to say adios.
This fall Penticton’s newly elected council must be prepared to settle this issue. Elvena Slump
Penticton
As result we have produced a small quantity of maple syrup which anyone can sample in our store in Summerland. From the tremendously positive feedback we have decided to invest in a small commercial operation and to purchase the necessary equipment to make local production viable. The support from the community has been exceptional and will work with everyone to collect as much sap as possible, next season.
On a sad note, and a little bit of disappointment we can no longer be at the Penticton Farmers’ Market because we have opened our community store therefore we had to move to the Penticton Community Market just down the street.
We are going to be located on Front Street right in front of Dream Café. We are excited to be part of the growing Community Market. We are hoping to see you all and again a big thank you for your incredible support over the years. Roch Fortin Maple Roch, Summerland