Directors at the Regional District (Okanagan Similkameen) are back at discussing a $500,000 annual fund to pay for conservation planning in the sub-region of Okanagan – leaving out the Similkameen.

West Bench Director Michael Brydon proposed in a committee meeting that each home in Osoyoos, Oliver, Penticton, Summerland and points between could pay $10 each and fund the initiative.

Two directors from Penticton voted against the concept with Mayor Andrew Jakubeit stating that all the priorities of the district should be discussed in the context of taxes and budget – not isolated ideas in the middle of the year.

The idea goes to a meeting of the full board in May.

The proposal is for a quicker process of assent than a referendum – called the AAP – Alternative Approval Process – where the public is asked to indicate a negative point of view that could force a referendum if opposition is strong.

There is no guarantee this initiative will pass as the RDOS board has been quite conservative in its spending in the last budget cycle.