Dear Editor,

[Re: Bylaw process feels sneaky, 91Ô­´´ Advance Times, June 15]

Once again the mayor, council and administrative staff are trying to borrow $15 million without proper consultation or approval of the people that have to repay the loan – the city taxpayer.

This needs to be put to the voting public with a simple question do you want 91Ô­´´ City to borrow $15 million to do X. We don’t know what X is? Never mind this reverse billing ploy we are gonna do this unless we hear from the voting public. If memory serves me, a cable TV company tried a similar style back in 1995.

The practise of this style of billing was ruled illegal by a federal court of law. So why is a municipal government doing what in fact is the same thing? Advertising in local news outlets and posting on the City website is not sufficient. A posted letter to the taxpayer address is the way to ensure a realistic effort to obtain a true taxpayer opinion when dealing with this speculative type borrowing. Add the postage to the cost of borrowing.

There is infrastructure repairs for the downtown business district along the one-way estimated at $11 million. Is that what the funds are slated for? If so what’s the other $4 million to be spent on?

Speculative SkyTrain properties? We provide a budget to operate and run the City, operate within the budget. You were not elected/hired to be investors for us and rule 1 of investing is don’t use borrowed funds.

This council and administration haven’t been forthcoming. After our last tax increase and listed items of new budget line 1 debt repayment $400k per year for 20 years. And interest rates are going in wrong direction.

Mr. Mayor, if you want to borrow this amount of money, ask the taxpayers to approve the process. It’s the right thing to do.

Murray Campbell, 91Ô­´´ City

.

READ MORE: 91Ô­´´ City will need residents to nix $15 million in borrowing

.