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May 04, 2018 - 3:16 PM
PENTICTON - Regional district residents living in Electoral Area D won’t be heavily impacted financially by the recently confirmed split.
Area D, the largest rural area in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen in terms of population, will be divided in two along a north-south line through Skaha Lake resulting in Okanagan Falls and the east side of Skaha Lake, including the Carmi area, remaining in Area D.
Kaleden, Twin Lakes, Apex and points west of Skaha Lake will form Area I shortly before this year’s municipal elections when a new director for the area will be elected.
The populations of the two new areas will be relatively close as the present Area D population of 6,659 reduces to 3,367 and the remaining 3,292 become part of Area I.
It’s estimated the division will cost the average residence worth $373,371 an additional $1.68 per household per year in property taxes. That includes the cost of a new alternate director, equipment and regional district staff time required to administer the new electoral area.
Fifty programs presently operating in Area D are expected to continue in both areas, at least initially. A schedule to review the service bylaws will be started in 2019, with amendments and redrafts of any bylaws impacted by the division.
The current voting strength of the area will be maintained, but the five votes presently cast by the area director will be split between the two areas based on population.
Residents can expect better representation at the board as the two directors would have fewer residents to serve, manager of legislative services Christy Malden says.
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