Increased funding for symphony

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: December 09, 2010 6:00 PM

Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is tuning into expanded taxpayer support, but a significant increase in funding has fallen flat.  The North Okanagan Regional District board has agreed to increase funding for OSO from $6,043 to $9,000 annually.  “That will be equivalent to the grant from Penticton,” said director Patrick Nicol.  OSO had been asking for $50,000 from participants in the NORD function (Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, BX-Swan Lake, BX-Silver Star, rural Lumby and rural Enderby).  Nicol believes the request for $50,000 was unrealistic.  “The symphony brings in a lot of great music to the valley but these are tougher economic times,” he said.  The only opposition to the funding increase came from Lumby director Kevin Acton.  “All of these little things add up,” he said of how increasing budgets impact taxpayers.  The Village of Lumby has indicated that it wants to withdraw from the regional function and it may consider funding OSO on its own. “If they want something from Lumby, they can come to us and ask,” he said, adding that one of his council’s goals is to increase public transparency on where taxes go.