Up Front: Salary caps unlikely this year for CVRD officials The arts: Cowichan creator asks ‘is it art, or is it music?’
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Friday, March 22, 2013
Monster spotted in Shawnigan
North Cowichan draws tax hike line under four
Godzilla: Film crews shooting Hollywood Godzilla: blockbuster on southern Vancouver Island
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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orth Cowichan homeowners could face tax hikes of around 4% this year, the mayor says. Jon Lefebure said council is now working with a 3.82 % uplift — about $49 per average home assessed at $337,000. That levy could swell if council’s proposed 1 % climate-action tax happens — though tax rates could also dip once new business assessments are factored, he said of the possible tax yo-yo. Given all necessary numbers, tax rates for each property class — residential, commercial and industrial — will be determined before Victoria’s May 15 deadline for municipal budgets, explained Lefebure. “We don’t yet know the ¿nal number.’’ Home taxes took an additional $275 taxshift hit last year amid worries top taxpayer, Crofton pulp mill, would cease operation. That one-time hike crowned a 3.85 % home-tax lift. To Lefebure, it all spells long-term tax stability for residents and business owners. “We hope for a stable, steady tax policy we hope will be less than four %, and in the three % range.” Complex budgeting started in October, eventually recommending the 3.82 % increase, with no sag in services. “Council told staff we want to maintain services. We can’t plan for everything we want to, and cut taxes.” But that became the aim of Councillor John Koury, who recently proposed a 2 % home-tax cap. Administrator Dave Devana said Koury’s cap — hotly debated Wednesday — would have sent council back to a big budgetary drawing board. Koury’s restraints, backed by Councillor Al Siebring, were defeated when Lefebure and four other councillors voted approval of the basic 3.82 % boost. Koury’s email, and comments to council, urged using municipal reserves and land sales to fund the 1.8 % gap in his tax cap. more on A4
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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Andrew Leong
Twisting her body like a pretzel, Duncan Dynamics Gymnastics Club’s Keerstin Arden performs her routine on the balance beam during the Orca Invitational meet in Duncan. For more on the Saturday and Sunday meet, and the club’s progress, See Page A17.
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nstead of laying waste to Tokyo, Godzilla is making his way across the island to Shawnigan Lake. The Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures are ¿lming a new Godzilla movie in south Cowichan, Ladysmith, and downtown Nanaimo this week. Depending on weather, various locations — closed to the public — will be used for the big-budget, 3-D remake involving 300-odd crew members giving life to the nuclear-spawned dinosaur creature. Louise McMurray of Film Cowichan was stoked about Hollywood cash heating Warm Land’s coffers. “This is one of the bigger productions we have had coming through this region,” reads her email to the News Leader Pictorial. “It will certainly affect the Cowichan region, and all of southern Vancouver Island, in terms of ecoGodzilla: ravaging a nomic spin-offs from hotels, to food, city near you? to all sorts of goods and services they require.” Tinsel Town likes Cowichan’s versatile geography, too. “A major production like this is coming here because we can offer unique, useable locations that are not easy to ¿nd,” McMurray says, noting Cowichan’s Àexible rail-corridor use during the remake of Godzilla that was unleashed in 1954 and 1998 versions. “It is not easy to close bigger rail systems. We have something that can be used, and if a production calls for it, they will travel to where it is available. Once (directors) are here, they tend to look for other locations so spin-off bene¿ts increase.” The movie, directed by Gareth Edwards, stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen and Juliette Binoche. Godzilla’s screenplay was written by Max Borenstein, Frank Darabont and Dave Callaham. Sasha Angus, of Nanaimo Economic Development, said the ¿lm industry is important and a large movie production means lots of money reaching the local economy. He ¿gured hundreds of thousands of dollars a day will hit Nanaimo’s economy. Film crews often hire local catering companies, ¿ll hotels and motels and rent equipment from local businesses, he said. more on A4
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