It was announced that the two regional joint services agreements affecting the Oliver Parks and Oliver Heritage will be frozen at the funding level for 2013.

Mayor Ron Hovanes and Director Allan Patton both told the Board they had struck this deal on the basis of impact on taxpayers in a year where funding is required for new services.

Director Patton says “even with this move rural taxes will increase by 9%”

The impact of capital and operational needs for the Frank Venables Theatre are at the root of this taxing dilemma.

Once taxpayers vote on a referendum question this fall, more clarity will come to the situation about funding all joint services in the Oliver area.

Mayor Hovanes is the municipal director and empowered to speak at the RDOS for the Town of Oliver on such matters.