Penticton taxpayers to face one time tax bite for RDOS building upgrades

PENTICTON – Penticton ratepayers will face a one-time tax bite from the regional district this year.

The Regional District of Okanagan – Similkameen gave first reading to the 2015 budget on Jan. 22, and will now hit the road as staff and local politicians seek public approval through numerous municipal and electoral area meetings.

Penticton’s requisition this year sits at $1.59 million, up $177,000 from 2014.

RDOS Finance manager Sandy Croteau said the main budget item driving the increase this year comes from a one-time request for $436,000 in order to renovate regional district headquarters at 101 Martin Street. Croteau said $210,000 of that would come from reserves. Penticton’s share of the remaining $225,000 is 40 per cent.

“The remainder will come from taxes in 2015,” said Croteau. “As the budget now stands, Penticton ratepayers will pay an additional nine dollars per household. Without the renovation project, the additional cost would be five or six dollars.” She said the budget was based on a worst case scenario, without taking into account possible grants that may yet come available.

Croteau said renovations could get underway shortly after budget approval, which could come in March. This would be the first major upgrade to the building, which has housed the regional district for 40 years.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.Pe