Poll reveals less than half of regional residents use library services

PENTICTON – At least one regional district director would like to see residents use the library more.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board of directors heard the results of this year’s citizen survey at yesterday’s regular board meeting and it's not flattering.

Osoyoos Director Sue McKortoff took notice of the low number of residents using the library system — just 46 per cent of those surveyed.

“I looked at my tax requisition and I paid $121 for library service. There aren’t that many people using our libraries, I hope people will start,” she said.

Regional district staffer Candace Gartner said 400 individuals were canvassed by phone and online for the 2017 survey provided a “scientifically representative sample” of regional district residents' thoughts on a number of regional concerns.

Residents rated the district’s most important issues as being water supply and quality, jobs, crime, safety and the economy, Gartner revealed. Affordable housing was also high on the list.

Sixty-three per cent of residents would like to see the same level of services delivered and leave their taxes unchanged, while 70 per cent said they would pay a higher fee to use adjacent municipal services and facilities.

Residents expressed most satisfaction with the district’s curbside and recycling services.

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