(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
Republished November 16, 2014 - 9:34 AM
Original Publication Date November 15, 2014 - 11:20 PM
VERNON - The Greater Vernon Water referendum failed to garner support from voters.
Asked if they supported borrowing up to $70 million to bring the water system up to provincial safety standards, 7,918 residents (64 per cent) voted no, and 3,999 (34 per cent) voted yes.
Endorsing the referendum would have meant the average domestic customers water bill would rise $36 a year, each year, for five years. Right now, the water system does not meet drinking water regulations.
Now that the referendum has been shot down, the Interior Health Authority could theoretically order the improvements, which would allow the regional district to borrow the money without a referendum.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014