By Wade Paterson - Kelowna Capital News Published: August 30, 2012 4:00 PM
The way the Regional District plans to spend $506,000 of its share of
gas tax funding has several members of West Kelowna council upset. During the Regional Board's Aug. 20 meeting, members
approved submitting three projects to the Union of B.C. Municipalities
for consideration and approval through Central Okanagan's share of
Regionally Significant Project gas tax funding. The projects include spending $317,969 to upgrade and
provide a backup centrifuge at a regional facility that treats septic
waste; $150,000 for a regional household travel survey and analysis;
$38,000 to review and update the Regional Air Quality Management Plan. "We continue to be amazed at the different ways the Regional District can find to spend money," said Mayor Doug Findlater. The biggest problem, according to Findlater, is that
the Central Okanagan is in tier two of the Gas Tax Agreement tier
structure. If the Regional District was in tier one, the money currently
allocated for Regionally Significant Project funding would transfer to
the Community Works Fund. That would mean more money for West Kelowna to utilize locally. "We're in tier two (so) the $8.7 million is basically
under control of the Regional District rather than being allocated per
capita," said West Kelowna Coun. Duane Ophus. "We're fighting that…and the Regional Board supports us on that." Ophus admitted a portion of the money spent from the
$8.7 million Regionally Significant Project pool has benefited West
Kelowna; however, he is not happy about how the remaining $506,000 is
being spent. "Some of these projects, in (my) mind, are not anywhere near the top of the list for the way we should be spending this money. "The one I had the biggest problem with was the
$317,000 (centrifuge upgrade); coming to us in this fashion was really
not acceptable. It was in the regional five-year plan for 2014 for
$150,000. The first we heard $150,000 wasn't going to be enough was when
this report for double came to the Regional Board, with no explanation
why. "Spending money this way is not in the best interests
of the taxpayers of the Regional District because it's not planned
properly and not prioritized properly." Westside Coun. Rick de Jong said he is especially upset
with the money being spent on a regional household travel survey and
analysis. "When I see $150,000 for a research project for household travel…I'm dismayed and disappointed," said de Jong. Findlater agreed. "My gut reaction is that you can probably do a survey
like that for about $30,000 and still get useful information, rather
than $150,000." Findlater and Ophus sit on the Regional Board. Both voted against funding the proposed projects. According to the West Kelowna mayor, the Regional Board
has requested to move into tier one; however, the UBCM has not yet
granted the transfer.
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