Tag Archives: Cortes Tax dollars

Regional Director Launches Petition to Investigate Incorporation Option for Cortes

Cortes residents may have noticed a petition available in paper form at our post offices and grocery stores, or received an email update from our Regional Director inviting them to consider signing the online version. The petition mentions governance and incorporation: what’s it all about? I interviewed Regional Director Mark Vonesch to get a better understanding of the issues and why he’s chosen this moment to launch a petition regarding our governance model.

[This article is a condensed version of our interview. The full version is available in podcast form in the links below. Inset quotes in this article are comments made by Cortes residents who have signed the online petition.]

Continue reading Regional Director Launches Petition to Investigate Incorporation Option for Cortes

Where did Cortes Island’s property tax dollars go in 2021?

How our local government worksPart 1 of 5 from the Feb 5 SRD Board Meeting

The proposed budget for 2022 was one of the principle topics at the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board Meeting on Wednesday, February 9th. Part of this process involved looking into the finances for 2021. So in the first of a five part series arising from that meeting, Cortes Currents is looking into how the SRD is spending the portion of our tax dollars under their control. 

Continue reading Where did Cortes Island’s property tax dollars go in 2021?

So little substantive information in SRD Budget that she cannot do her job, Director claims

For the first time in her 13 years as Cortes Island’s Regional Director,  Noba Anderson writes that there is so little substantive information in the Strathcona Regional District Budget that she cannot do her job. Anderson made this comment in a report, in which she alleges witnessing the erosion of the budgeting process over the last number of years.

Continue reading So little substantive information in SRD Budget that she cannot do her job, Director claims

Preliminary surplus report for SRD Electoral areas

COVID has not had a negative impact on the SRD’s Electoral area’s finances. The accounts carry a surplus forward every year, and 2020 is not an exception. SRD staff just released a preliminary surplus report for the electoral areas. 

Continue reading Preliminary surplus report for SRD Electoral areas

Financial Impacts of COVID 19 on Cortes, Quadra & Other Electoral Areas

While only two projects have been cancelled so far, a significant number are on hold. Strathcona Regional District staff are monitoring the financial situation closely. Their preliminary report on the financial impacts of COVID 19 within the electoral areas suggests there will be a budget surplus “primarily due to staff vacancies, layoffs, and related travel and training costs.

Continue reading Financial Impacts of COVID 19 on Cortes, Quadra & Other Electoral Areas