(MEAGHAN ARCHER / iNFOnews.ca)
September 11, 2014 - 8:45 AM
PENTICTON - Boonstock organizers say they received a bill from the provincial government three-and-a-half times more than the additional $50,000 RCMP say is owed for extra costs incurred over the festival weekend last month.
The Ministry of Justice sent an invoice to Boonstock organizers with a “total owing” of nearly $177,000, and gave them 30 days to pay the outstanding costs.
On Wednesday, Penticton RCMP released a statement that said Boonstock owes an additional $50,000 to cover costs of extra officers brought in to make up for failed private security.
Organizers assured taxpayers of Penticton that Boonstock is responsible for all RCMP costs, and the outstanding payments will come from their pockets, not those of the taxpayers.
Organizers said in a press release they have not yet received a breakdown of costs from Penticton RCMP or from the Ministry but are working to get those documents. They also want to see details of the 38 prisoners held and the 150 police files opened as a result of misbehaviour at the festival.
Organizers criticized the RCMP release for speculating, and pointed out several lines from the release, including, “we can only speculate…, it is impossible to say with complete certainty… and I believe that the security concerns… would only have been compounded had the event been issued a liquor license”.
“We are not in the business of speculation, and we hope you, our fans, take these words for exactly what they are worth,” organizers said.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014