Your editorial of July 2nd is all wet... And shortsighted.
We pay the highest property taxes in the province so that we can be all things to all residents. It is not our financial responsibility to provide all things to non-residents.
But rather than providing residents with the first opportunity to register for recreational programs, we should be limiting non-resident registrations to no more than 20%. This policy should apply to all facilities, not just the swimming pools.
We should also be charging non residents higher fees to offset the capital costs associated with building facilities, and to reduce the operating deficit subsidized by taxpayers.
Non-residents choose, for whatever reason, not to build the recreational facilities they want in their own communities. It is not our financial responsibility to provide the facilities for them.
St. Albert does more than its fair share in "sharing the wealth."
It's time non-residents "share their wealth" and help pay their way.
Norm Harley, St. Albert
