After lunch today Directors of the RDOS will hit the books again – to reduce a provisional budget that had staff recommending a 3.5% increase.
Most of that increase because of recommended staff increases and the operations cost of the Venables Theatre in Oliver.
Documents that were released this week show that on November 20th those in control at the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen had a public (no media invited) meeting where the RDOS administration staff discussed possible changes including an increase in the communications budget to hire a full time PR person, an increase of $52 thousand, a health and safety coordinator $73000, staff levels for performing Climate Action functions and the purchase of a number of new vehicles. That budget request also talked to the payment of wages and benefits to volunteer firefighters from Princeton to Naramata.
At first blush the approved budget last year of $13.287 million would increase by $667,563 with another $685 thousand if the fire department staffing idea was fully funded.
On the Venables Theatre issue – $100,000 was thought to be sufficient to run the first year of operations in 2014 but no local agreement for a tri-party arrangement has been announced. That local agreement called for additional support from the School District which owns the building and the land and insures the structure that is set to open in March.
There are six municipalities and 8 rural areas which pay a proportional share of general administrative expenses. There are 1.7 billion dollars in land and improvements in the Regional District. Penticton pays about 40% of the general costs, Summerland 13%, Osoyoos 12% and Oliver 9% – other areas 26%.
Figures for Osoyoos and Oliver combining rural and town to make a better comparison with larger municipalities.
Oliver’s specific tax requisition increase would be almost 17% more up $159,565 – Rural area C would increase 10.87% or $135,611.
The work today by directors will be to pare this down closer to a 0% increase but locally that will not be possible because of commitments to the performing theatre.
Staff warned the media – nothing is final – the budget is passed in March of 2014. A long time away.
A fact for you: Area C taxpayers could be asked to fund $1.383 million and Town residents $1.104 million.
A lot of money for joint services agreements on landfill, parks, heritage, planning, some rural sewer services, tourism and library.
And that’s just the operational side – no mention of capital/debt ideas.