By Tom Mark

Armstrong Rejects Shared Cost For RCMP Support Staff

Mar 29, 2018 | 5:57 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.”