Greater Vernon residents could potentially be voting on three future
referendums for projects worth more than 15 million dollars. On the table is plans for a 7.8 million dollar sports complex at
Okanagan College, a new five million dollar art gallery, along with six
million in water projects and repairs to the Vernon Rec Centre. Greater Vernon Advisory Committee director Jim Garlick says a couple of special meetings will be held next month to set some spending priorities. "The public has limitations.We're going to be having to make decisions on where to draw the line on these budget items." Interim GVAC chair Mike Macnabb agrees the committee has to set priorities. "As each one of these agencies comes forward and is looking for some
contribution, we have to balance it with what we can afford to pay."
The Regional District of North Okanagan has 12 million dollars in reserve funds, some of which could be used for projects. Vernon mayor and GVAC director Rob Sawatzky says the cost pressures facing the committee and the public are a sign of the times. "It's going to be very difficult reconciling all these things, but
that's why were here, and I think most citizens realize that economic
rationality has to take precedence over everything else."
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