The city of Vernon has released its estimate of the cost to taxpayers for the construction of a new library/civic building. The city estimates that if the money the city needs to borrow to construct the building is paid back over 25 years, it will cost the average homeowner $38 per year. However, if a short term financing option is chosen the project will cost $160 per household over four years.
Coun. Patrick Nicol said these cost projections will likely go down as Vernon grows. “Over the next 25 years, those people who move to our community will pay also, meaning that the per capita cost will go down,” said Nicol, citing the project as “a great opportunity to upgrade the community.” The plan calls for the creation of a building in the city hall/ RCMP detachment complex, which would house the library as well as offices for the city and RCMP. Private businesses could use the remainder of the space as offices as well. Nicol also noted that it is possible the museum could move into the library‘s old building. “The museum sees it as a reasonable, fair solution. They are looking seriously at it,” said Nicol.
Coun. Patrick Nicol said these cost projections will likely go down as Vernon grows. “Over the next 25 years, those people who move to our community will pay also, meaning that the per capita cost will go down,” said Nicol, citing the project as “a great opportunity to upgrade the community.” The plan calls for the creation of a building in the city hall/ RCMP detachment complex, which would house the library as well as offices for the city and RCMP. Private businesses could use the remainder of the space as offices as well. Nicol also noted that it is possible the museum could move into the library‘s old building. “The museum sees it as a reasonable, fair solution. They are looking seriously at it,” said Nicol. 
The public has been invited to three meetings at City Hall to learn about the project, view plans and discuss funding measures. The open houses will be held on June 20 from 5 p.m. to 8p.m., June 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and June 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. To borrow the money needed for the project, the city must seek the approval of citizens through a referendum or at least prove that a negligible number of citizens object to the project. The city has elected to do the latter by utilizing an “alternate approval process” which puts the onus on 10 per cent of the population to sign a petition saying they disapprove of the project‘s funding. The fact that the city has decided to demonstrate the public‘s lack of disapproval through the alternate approval process has some Vernonites feeling slighted.
The Vernon and District Taxpayer‘s Association is holding a meeting June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Schubert Centre to discuss any possible course of action that it may take to protest the approval process. “There has been tremendous interest in this situation,” said Tony Stamboulieh, with the association. “All I know is that there is a great resentment towards the (alternate approval process). We‘re not against the library or the RCMP offices.,” said Stamboulieh. “Our position is that our money is ours and if you want permission to use it you should ask.”
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