By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - January 25, 2008
Months of debate and controversy will come to a head as Vernonites head to the polls Saturday. Residents are being asked to approve borrowing up to $30 million over 25 years for a complex, which would include an art gallery, library and offices for city hall and the RCMP. “I want people to be informed and get out and vote,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. There has been considerable discussion in the community about the proposal, and while much of it has been negative, Lippert stands behind the project, which would be constructed between city hall and the museum. “We are trying to do something meaningful within downtown and be cost-effective,” he said. “This concept will serve the long-term needs of residents and it’s the best bang for our buck.” City figures state that the project will add an additional $41.89 a year to a home assessed at $300,000.
Lippert is convinced the high-density complex would be a good use of the land while providing green space. If the referendum is defeated Saturday, plans for the complex will be shelved. But Lippert says the lack of space for the RCMP, library and art gallery won’t go away. “We will have to look at buying or leasing something else. Something will need to be done,” he said. Opposition to the complex has come from the Vernon Taxpayers Association. “It’s not a priority. We believe there are much more important issues such as water and roads,” sad Tony Stamboulieh, association spokesman. Stamboulieh is also concerned that public input over the design of the building was not sought, and there’s been no proven need for the complex.“If they were good leaders, they would have convinced us,” he said. “It’s ill-conceived, imposed and dictated.”
Also speaking out against the complex is Coun. Barry Beardsell, who believes the price tag may go over budget.“Vernon has the second highest residential tax rate in the valley,” he said. “The plan has been presented with a lot of misleading facts, and it will be just as expensive, if not more expensive, than the original proposal for the Coldstream Hotel site.” With stock markets going through fluctuations, Beardsell claims now is not the time for the city to borrow funds for a large project. “The timing of what council is trying to do is irresponsible,” he said.Coun. Patrick Nicol, though, insists that financial details have been reviewed thoroughly.“It’s a lot of money but we have done it in a modest way compared to other communities. We are using existing land,” he said.“There’s a lot of reasons to do this. It’s a balanced approach to a number of issues.”
If the complex proceeds, it will include a 30,000-square-foot library on the ground floor.“The current Vernon branch is 50 per cent of where it should be in size,” said Lesley Dieno, Okanagan Regional Library executive director. “The collection is not big enough, there’s not enough computers and there’s not enough room for staffing.” ORL has committed $9 million towards construction of the complex. If the proposal is rejected by voters, Dieno isn’t sure how ORL will meet library needs in Vernon.“We would have to go right back to square one,” she said.Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Vernon Recreation Complex and Ellison Elementary School.
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Don Quixote Note:- Check out the final revised cheatsheet. This $300,000 home would have a tax of $50.70 NOT $41.89 if you assume the most optimistic scenario . The actual Capital costs for this property would be $77.86 on a 25 year borrowing and $101.86 on a 20 year borrowing which is more likely. If you want to calculate the same $300,000 property as a business taxpayer multiply all numbers above by 2.75.
- The Library has committed $9 million. They have $1 million approximately in reserves and bring a commitment to TAX library taxpayers the further $8 million which they can do without resorting to the restrains of either a counter-petition opportunity or a referendum.
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