The North Okanagan Regional District’s 2007 budget has been approved, but not without a lot of debate. Directors unanimously ratified the five-year financial plan Wednesday, but there were considerable questions prior to them raising their hands. Among the most contentious was the amount of money set aside to review 19 services accessed by the City of Vernon. The budget called for $150,000 to be spent on the review, but chairman Jerry Oglow asked for that to be reduced to $95,000 because of recent discussions with the city. “We’ve made measurable progress and 19 reviews won’t be required,” he said. However, while it was Vernon that triggered the reviews, other jurisdictions weren’t willing to back off the formal process because there may be issues they want addressed. “Enderby is not prepared to sign these things off just because you met with Vernon,” said Earl Shipmaker, Enderby director. It was pointed out that even if formal reviews don’t occur, the need to address concerns about certain functions will still require staff time. “We are going to have more meetings. At the end of the year, if we don’t spend it all, all the better,” said Lorna Bissell, Spallumcheen director.
Vernon representatives felt they were being unfairly targeted. 
“We were approached by the chairman (Oglow) to reduce the onerous task on the organization,” said director Juliette Cunningham. Stan Field, BX-Silver Star director, almost refused to support the budget because staff had not provided him about the costs of renting space at Vernon’s works yard.
“Someone had two months to answer a simple question,” he said. “We spend a couple of hundred thousand a year on ages and I can’t get a simple answer.” Field agreed to support the budget if staff provided him the information within 15 days.
“We were approached by the chairman (Oglow) to reduce the onerous task on the organization,” said director Juliette Cunningham. Stan Field, BX-Silver Star director, almost refused to support the budget because staff had not provided him about the costs of renting space at Vernon’s works yard.“Someone had two months to answer a simple question,” he said. “We spend a couple of hundred thousand a year on ages and I can’t get a simple answer.” Field agreed to support the budget if staff provided him the information within 15 days.
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Don Quixote Note: see The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight for details on why they might have to pass the budget again. Vernon's requistion increase for NORD will be 6.3% NOT 10.2%
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