(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A breakdown in negotiations between the City of Vernon and the District of Coldstream could see Vernon residents subsidizing Coldstream pool users.

The two municipalities, along with smaller rural areas, are currently at loggerheads over the day-to-day funding of Vernon's recreation services and an agreement on how much cash Coldstream should contribute was not renewed by a June 30 deadline.

"We offered a double-digit increase... and they wanted more than twice as much as what we offered," District of Coldstream Mayor Ruth Hoyte told iNFOnews.ca.

Mayor Hoyte said Coldstream and the North Okanagan Regional District Areas B and C currently put in roughly $1.1 million towards Vernon recreation.

It's unknown how much more cash Vernon is asking for as the actual numbers are still part of in-camera discussions and neither party is at liberty to disclose them.

But the Coldstream mayor said Vernon wanted "significantly more" than its offer.

The two sides appear to have come to a stalemate over the issue, and the Coldstream mayor along with Electoral Areas B and C Directors Bob Fleming and Amanda Shatzko, all signed an open letter dated July 27.

The open letter says Vernon declined an invitation to a meeting on the matter.

"It appears to Coldstream (and) Areas B and C that Vernon is not truly interested in negotiating and we have come to the table in good faith," Mayor Hoyte said. "We strongly feel that we have made a compelling offer."

The open letter appears to be in retaliation to a move from the City of Vernon.

Almost a month ago, Vernon said publicly in a media release that it is now looking into a two-tiered user pay system for 2024 after negotiations with Coldstream fell flat.

"That's how we found out just like everybody else," Mayor Hoyte said. "Where they basically said 'no agreement.'"

A two-tiered user pay system would mean those in Coldstream and Regional District Areas would pay more to use recreation services in Vernon. A Coldstream family trip to the pool would cost more, as would a Coldstream senior booking a pickleball court.

If this system is used at all in BC or Canada it's extremely uncommon.

Mayor Hoyte points out the system would be incredibly difficult to operate, as some residents outside of the City of Vernon's boundary – such as Silver Star and the BX – still have Vernon as their legal address.

Mayor Hoyte is adamant that Coldstream can only afford what it offered without passing on a substantial tax increase to its residents. Without a strong commercial tax base, the District estimates Coldstream residents would have a 25% tax increase to meet Vernon's demands.

If a two-tier system is too complex to institute, or Coldstream sticks its heels in and doesn't budge from its offer it would mean that Vernon residents would end up subsidizing Coldstream and other residents when they use the city's recreational facilities.

All this also comes about outside of any agreement on the City of Vernon's $121-million Active Living Centre, a project Coldstream and Area B and C, among others, haven't signed on to.

City of Vernon acting Mayor Akbal Mund did not respond to our request for comment. Councillors Kari Gares and Brian Quiring said they couldn't discuss the matter as it was still in camera.

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