The South Cariboo Joint Committee would like to take a closer at recreation, including the possibility of changing the taxation boundary before considering any new major projects.
Margo Wagner, the Cariboo Regional District Director for Area H and Co-Chair of the Committee, says the discussion came up following the failed referendum for the South Cariboo Rece Centre expansion.
Wagner says they realized that boundary for Areas G,H and L and the District of 100 Mile no longer represents between 70 and 80 percent of the properties…
“With people moving out of the country and subdivisions going in and developments and stuff we’re at a lot less than that now, and we actually had a lot of e-mails come into the Regional District asking how come I didn’t get to vote in this referendum ? I work in 100 Mile, I spend money in 100 Mile, I shop in 100 Mile, I consider 100 Mile my community and yet i don’t get a say on what goes on in recreation.
Wagner says the current boundaries include only about 68 percent of the population, and more importantly just 45 percent of the taxable assessment values.
For example, in her area, she says it doesn’t include Ruth Lake, Canim Lake or Hawkins Lake.
As for how much the committee is considering expanding the boundary, Wagner says it’s too early to say…
“I don’t know that we’re going to get to 100 percent to be honest with you. I think it needs to be more reasonable than what it was, it’s under 50 percent of the actual taxation assessment that is actually in that catchment area, which is the bigger deal as well. I think there will be some push back to go border to border throughout all three electoral areas. Where the lines will be drawn I honestly don’t know. We just decided that we will go ahead and do this.”
Wagner says they could have some recommendations ready by the fall, although she says there will be public consultation before then, as well as a referendum at the end before any changes can actually be made.