By ROY WOOD

Another tax levy could be in the offing for Osoyoos residents after a regional conservation group appeared before council seeking money to enhance and protect the environment.

South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program manager Bryn White told a council committee Monday a regional conservation fund for the area would help protect “one of the most at risk areas of the province (where) natural areas and wildlife … are rare and endangered.”

In her presentation to council, White explained that a conservation fund is a source of funds for “undertaking ecological activities.” She said the funds are typically overseen by local government with guidance from an independent technical committee.

She said a fund could be developed by a municipality on its own or in conjunction with other jurisdictions, like a regional district.

She pointed out that a municipality may go ahead and establish a fund without seeking approval from electors.

The types of projects that would be eligible for funding would vary from region to region and that criteria would be specified in the program’s terms of reference. Among typical project types:

•Watershed and drinking water protection;

•Fish and wildlife habitat restoration;

•Parkland acquisition;

•Protection of endangered species; or

•Trails network development.

Councillor CJ Rhodes suggested that local taxpayers could be reluctant about projects that might involve new taxes.

White concurred and said that at a recent meeting on the issue “we had a brainstorm about how to use a different word … like annual contribution.”

White suggested that the appropriate amount for such a fund in Osoyoos would likely be about $10 per household per year.

Council instructed staff to prepare a report for the November 16 meeting examining the request and the budget implications.