Show Me The Money

Local politicians may not go ahead with water system improvements unless senior levels of government are on board.

Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chair Juliette Cunningham says they are looking to have two-thirds of the costs covered.

“That’s what they’ve done in other communities. I don’t see why we should be treated any differently in terms of how much revenue is contributed by other levels of government,” says Cunningham.

The committee is looking at funding sources for multi million dollar projects to add filtration at the Duteau and Mission Hill treatment plants, and to raise the height of the Aberdeen Dam.

Director Jim Garlick agrees with getting the provincial and federal support, before they proceed.

“We’ve done a lot of moving ahead on water improvement, and trying to take care of business, but a lot of it ends up up being on the back of our local rate payers instead of on the higher levels of government,” Garlick tells Kiss FM.

Without the added support, customers can expect their water rates to rise 12 percent plus inflation, over the next seven years.