The city of Vernon will give the Historic O'Keefe Ranch more time before cutting back on the heritage site's funding. City council is looking to reduce costs due to the core service review and one recommendation is to phase-out the ranch's $150,000 annual subsidy over a three year period, eventually down to $10,000 which is the amount the city originally committed to provide. Mayor Rob Sawatzky supported reducing the amount as early as next year. "The O'Keefe Ranch has had more than enough years (to become self-sufficient), 18 years, and I don't think we should continue pouring money into it. We have to make hard decisions, and if we send money there, we're taking it from other services." However, the majority of council decided to start reducing the grant in 2016, giving the city-owned heritage attraction three years to become more self sufficient. Councillor Catherine Lord --a former manager at the ranch -- argued against a quick end to the funding, calling the ranch an asset that should be promoted more by the city. "Once we lose it, we will not be able to get it back," she said. Councillor Brian Quiring led the motion to give the ranch more time. He says the city-owned site is an asset that does a lot for local schools, and it's too soon to give up on it. "It's an asset that we have, and we need to keep putting money into it. We need to give them five years." Councillor Bob Spiers supports the site, but says "funding it should not rest with municipal taxpayers." The motion passed by a 4-3 vote.Thursday, May 16, 2013
City Gives O'Keefe Ranch More Time
Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 16 May 2013 17:25
The city of Vernon will give the Historic O'Keefe Ranch more time before cutting back on the heritage site's funding. City council is looking to reduce costs due to the core service review and one recommendation is to phase-out the ranch's $150,000 annual subsidy over a three year period, eventually down to $10,000 which is the amount the city originally committed to provide. Mayor Rob Sawatzky supported reducing the amount as early as next year. "The O'Keefe Ranch has had more than enough years (to become self-sufficient), 18 years, and I don't think we should continue pouring money into it. We have to make hard decisions, and if we send money there, we're taking it from other services." However, the majority of council decided to start reducing the grant in 2016, giving the city-owned heritage attraction three years to become more self sufficient. Councillor Catherine Lord --a former manager at the ranch -- argued against a quick end to the funding, calling the ranch an asset that should be promoted more by the city. "Once we lose it, we will not be able to get it back," she said. Councillor Brian Quiring led the motion to give the ranch more time. He says the city-owned site is an asset that does a lot for local schools, and it's too soon to give up on it. "It's an asset that we have, and we need to keep putting money into it. We need to give them five years." Councillor Bob Spiers supports the site, but says "funding it should not rest with municipal taxpayers." The motion passed by a 4-3 vote.
The city of Vernon will give the Historic O'Keefe Ranch more time before cutting back on the heritage site's funding. City council is looking to reduce costs due to the core service review and one recommendation is to phase-out the ranch's $150,000 annual subsidy over a three year period, eventually down to $10,000 which is the amount the city originally committed to provide. Mayor Rob Sawatzky supported reducing the amount as early as next year. "The O'Keefe Ranch has had more than enough years (to become self-sufficient), 18 years, and I don't think we should continue pouring money into it. We have to make hard decisions, and if we send money there, we're taking it from other services." However, the majority of council decided to start reducing the grant in 2016, giving the city-owned heritage attraction three years to become more self sufficient. Councillor Catherine Lord --a former manager at the ranch -- argued against a quick end to the funding, calling the ranch an asset that should be promoted more by the city. "Once we lose it, we will not be able to get it back," she said. Councillor Brian Quiring led the motion to give the ranch more time. He says the city-owned site is an asset that does a lot for local schools, and it's too soon to give up on it. "It's an asset that we have, and we need to keep putting money into it. We need to give them five years." Councillor Bob Spiers supports the site, but says "funding it should not rest with municipal taxpayers." The motion passed by a 4-3 vote.
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