Salt Spring Island rejects becoming municipality

Salt Spring Island residents have voted against turning their idyllic island — the largest of the southern Gulf Islands — into a municipality.

Preliminary results showed close to 62 per cent of voters opted to maintain the status quo in a referendum on Saturday: 3,930 people cast a ballot against incorporation, while 2,419 people voted in favour.

The issue has divided the residents of the island, which has a population of about 10,000, although that figure doubles in the summer months.

“There’s two quite divergent visions for the island,” said Patricia Lockie of the Positively No, adding there was a lot at stake. “It’s about the future of the island, and its destiny and what it might look like.”

The Yes side wanted Salt Spring to be able to elect a mayor and councillors so residents could have a more direct say on how to spend the $12 million they pay in taxes for services. A municipality would also be more effective at making decisions and co-ordinating services that are currently provided by various agencies, it argued.

The No side opposed incorporation over concerns costs and liabilities, such as road maintenance and policing that are currently taken care of by the province, would be too heavy a burden for a newly minted municipality and because of fears the island would lose its unique spirit and be more susceptible to development pressures.

“The major consideration was the fear the island would change because of the need to raise revenues for community services and amenities,” Lockie said.

With a No victory, the governance of the island remains under the Gulf Islands Trust and the Capital Regional District. Salt Spring Island residents elects two trustees to the Islands Trust, which determines land use on the island, and one director to the CRD board, which is responsible for services.

Lockie said she is optimistic both sides will be able to work together for the future of the island. Now that the referendum is over, residents can focus on options to improve local governance while remaining under the trust, she said.

In a Facebook message, the Yes side said it was disappointed in the outcome but that it was committed to “more effective governance” within the current system.

This is the second time in 15 years Salt Spring Islanders have voted against incorporation. In 2002, more than two-thirds of residents voted against becoming a municipality.