Amalgamation Momentum Builds in North Okanagan

Not that it hasn't before.
Oh...at a guess...maybe three or four times in the nearly 40 years my family has resided here.


But this time, there's a sense...a feeling...that things are different.

That residents won't take "status quo" for an answer.
That Eric Foster, MLA for Vernon Monashee, won't walk into government offices in Victoria and recommend that the Minister "ignore the North Okanagan's amalgamation clamor".

On occasions almost too numerous to count, this blog has referenced the dissent and utter frustration of residents to the area's over-governance.  Even then-minister Ida Chong paid only lip service to the amalgamation call.

Blog references are here:
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2011/07/north-okanaganover-governed-and-under.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2013/03/rolke-rollover.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2013/02/dismissing-kpmgs-recommendation.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2013/01/no-balls-no-vision.html, http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2013/06/former-vernon-councillor-speaks-out.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2013/06/the-powerful-logic-of-michael-tindall.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2011/11/occupy-voting-booth.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2010/03/559-per-cent-coldstream-property-tax.html,
http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2010/02/water-rate-gouging.html, http://northokanagandaily.blogspot.ca/2011/08/abuse-of-power-by-district-of.html

"Whew," offers Kia.

The Press Release from the group follows:
...doubt you'll see this anytime soon in the Morning Star.

(Ed.note:  bold is blog emphasis).

"Future Governance Society Launches Web Site and Petition Drive

MEDIA RELEASE

September 8th, 2013

For Immediate Use

The Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon has launched a web site to gather citizen’s signatures, with the goal of having the question of whether or not a single local government would be more efficient and make better use of tax dollars be addressed. The website is www.greatervernongovernance.ca

Society President Bruce Shepherd says that the Society is a group of citizens from Vernon, Coldstream and Electoral areas “B” and “C” and they will be looking to collect signatures from more than 10% of the registered voters in each of the areas. Our desire is to demonstrate to local and provincial politicians that citizens want to know the best model for an efficient local governance system. We believe the time has come for us to act as ONE community.

“It might be amalgamation or it might not,” said Shepherd “which is why it’s important for citizens on both sides of the issue to sign the petition and get the question on the table for formal discussion with facts. Local and Provincial politicians won’t take the initiative to find cost and efficiency savings in Governance, unless taxpayers demand it.”

Society director Peter Moore noted that some increases in taxes are bound to happen over time, but questions why the cost of government has risen so rapidly.  He quotes Canadian Federation of Independent Business research showing population grew 10% in Coldstream between 2000 and 2010 while District spending per capita adjusted for inflation grew by 32%.  In Vernon for the same period, population grew by 13% while real spending per capita soared by 53%.

“Do the math,” says Moore.  “District and City spending is far outstripping the ability to pay so where will the dollars come from?  Either taxpayers dig ever deeper or services and programs will be cut. To avoid this we must find cost savings in how we operate municipal government.”

Anyone who’s lived in Greater Vernon for the last 15 years knows very well the turf wars and arguments between Coldstream, Vernon, the Regional District and the Electoral areas” said Shepherd, “and they continue to this day.

He went on to say that the recent KPMG Core Services Review for the City identified local governance as a complex web of local government institutions.  They further identified duplication of skills, effort and resources at the senior management level as well as complication of operations and even misalignment of priorities and policies between the entities.

“KPMG recommended that the highest potential to improve efficiency and reduce costs for local governance was amalgamation,” noted Shepherd, “and that’s from a respected international accounting and consulting firm.  Maybe we should pay more attention to their findings rather than dismissing them.”

“Citizens should ask why, in a 30 kilometer circle around Vernon with 58,000 people, we need two mayors, 12 councilors, a regional district board and three complements of highly paid senior staff.  We believe that we need to start thinking as ONE Community, and hope citizens join our effort” he said.

For Further Information:    Bruce Shepherd 250-503-0663 or Peter Moore 250-545-2432"

"God's speed to Bruce and Peter," says Kia.
 
A hurricane will likely be needed, too.