There are a few stories being checked out by local politicians about the tax requisition proposed by the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen to continue hours as usual at the Keremeos library.
One tale goes that it’ll cost residents in Hedley almost $11 a year extra on their taxes to keep a library in Keremeos open.
This information was sent out by Area G director Elef Christensen and it is not correct.
The most recent numbers coming out of RDOS show that the average homeowner in Area G based on a value of $183,000 would pay just $7.09 additional in taxes to help keep the Keremeos library open.
Another novel idea being checked into is opening the Hedley library an extra hour to make it so Hedley residents feel like they are getting something for their increase in taxes.
It was reported in the Review last week that could be funded through the tax requisition. However that is incorrect because the wording of the bylaw does not allow it.
But Stephanie Hall executive director of the Okanagan Regional Library board has said her and her staff will find funding for at least one year if that is the wish of Area G director Elef Christensen.
An alternative approval process is underway for the tax requisition. If 10 per cent of people in the catchment area, about 450 people, write in and comment against the increase in taxes the issue would have to move to a referendum.
A referendum is not likely as the cost could be higher than what is being asked in the tax requisition.
Sitting in Hedley it might seem silly to fund a library in Keremeos but consider this - the children in your community today and years to come might go to programs there. You or your neighbour might need access to a computer on a day when your library isn’t open. You might need special help for one of the gadgets your children bought you for a present and no one in Hedley knows how to help you. Or simply you might just want to get a movie or take out a book one day when you’re in Keremeos.
Just over 50 cents a month sounds like a bargain.
- T. B.