Armstrong Rejects Shared Cost For RCMP Support Staff

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Tom Mark March 29, 2018 05:57 am
The city of Armstrong has turned down a request from Vernon to share in the cost for support staff for Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP. Mayor Chris Pieper says Armstrong is already paying more for policing this year because population growth. “Plus administration costs, plus building cost. So those particular costs will probably increase our taxes to the community by two or three times. We haven’t finalized that out.”He says what Vernon is asking for is service that is not in the contract Armstrong signed with the province. “Respectfully to the city of Vernon and the communities, those are costs that are there, that are used by the city of Vernon, used by Coldstream, used by the regional district and everything else. However the increased costs we are incurring this year are very high.” Pieper says the city has to take into account the affordability of residents when it comes to their taxes. “Our stand right now is that we can’t afford it. We’re going to have to pay extra policing costs next year as we increase to four police officers.” That extra officer alone works out to an increase of over 100 thousand dollars.