Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer is approaching calling out another Similkameen director for manipulating the public with wrong information regarding the Keremeos Library tax requisition.
“Elected officials and their designates should not try to manipulate the outcome of an AAP (alternative approval process). We need to trust the electorate and the democratic process. It is very easy to disseminate the wrong information while expressing a particular view. At $ 7 or 8 for the average household to keep library services at current levels, the residents in the valley are well served including many residents from Hedley considering the limited hours available at the Hedley branch,” Mayor Manfred Bauer wrote in an email to the Review this week.
The email was in regards to incorrect information provided by Area G director Elef Christensen claiming that some Area G residents would be facing a $10.99 increase in taxes to keep the Keremeos Library hours the same as previous years.
Because of a reduction in funding by the Okanagan Regional Library board the Keremeos library is facing a budgetary shortfall of about $24,500. Without residents paying through regional taxes, the library would have been forced to close for an additional day a week.
Christensen along with Bauer and Area B director George Bush agreed to fund the shortfall in 2016 through some discretionary funds at the regional district with the understanding that they would then go to the public for a tax requisition approval before the completion of the 2017 budget.
Christensen raised concerns in December 2016 when it was listed that taxpayers in Hedley would be included in the tax requisition although they paid for a library in their own community.
Christensen voted against the tax requisition at that time but the motion was carried with the remaining 17 directors voting in favour.
Since then Christensen has circulated a one-page document to area residents with the incorrect tax requisition costs listed. He also encouraged residents to mail in comments against the alternative approval process.
“As a Director I support both our Libraries, but I believe this not the right approach to take for our Libraries. If we pass this bylaw and open our wallets, the Provincial Government will not step up to the plate and put more resources to fund rural Libraries, and the Local Taxpayer will be permanently on the hook for funding this service,” the letter stated.
If the requisition goes forward the cost for Area B residents with an average home value of $208,000 would be $8.06 a year while the cost to Keremeos residents with a home valued $211,000 would be $8.19.
Bauer has said the idea behind the requisition is that it will be in place for one year with the hope that the province will change the funding formula for rural libraries.
The alternative approval process closes January 20, 2017.