An editorial in the Blyth Standard of January 30, 1974, in case you missed
it, is quoted in part below.
Time to start sharing costs
“The situation surrounding the Lions Swimming Pool project this week
illustrates one of the basic weaknesses of the current system of county
government.
The Blyth council decided it could not expect the ratepayers of the village
to pay an extra 10 mills on their taxes to pick up the expected annual deficit
of the swimming pool. Most of the people who would be paying the taxes would not
be making use of the pool. Yet a good many of the pool who would be using the
pool, would be paying nothing. These are the people in the surrounding
townships. Their chjildren would be making use of the pool, but because they do
not contribute tax dollars to support the Blyth recreation program they would be
getting all the benefit with none of the expense......
Blyth is in the strangest situation of all the municipalities though all
the financing comes from the village taxpayers. Most recreation facilities such
as the arenas and the proposed swimming pool are used by more people from
outside the village boundaries than from within.
Most residents of the rural area around Blyth, we’re sure, would not
begrudge the extra few dollars a year it would take to pay their share of the
bills, but their township councils, again with the odd exception, guard eh purse
strings jealously.
This is exactly the kind of pettiness and short-sightedness that has
brought regional government plans into effect.”
BROCK'S COMMENT:
Time has changed some of the cross-border services in question and
the representatives involved. Amalgamations have shifted some of the boundaries.
But the fundamental issues remain. Unfortunately, when we try to reach
agreements with our neighbours, quibbling about the costs sometimes absorbs more
dollars than the amount in question.
Here we are almost 40 years later with only nominal solutions, and
continued reluctance of some to pay their fair share.
Brock Vodden
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