Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon

(Note:  Petition comments updated daily, and are found immediately below this document)

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Single government structure, “Long overdue”

MEDIA RELEASE

September 13th, 2013

For Immediate Use

The Society for the Future Governance of Greater Vernon has been collecting signatures for less than one week, and already there is a general theme coming forward from citizens. The Societies website www.greatervernongovernance.ca is collecting signatures from citizens who want local and provincial authorities to review the opportunity of combining local governments into a single entity, for the purpose of more efficient use of our local tax dollars.  

Society President Bruce Shepherd says “The most frequent comment is that investigating the concept of one local government entity is LONG OVERDUE. In addition, we’ve heard that citizens are tired of the ineffective and inconsistent way in which governance of the area is handled.”

“We keep hearing that a unified government structure is of no interest to Coldstream citizens” said Shepherd “but clearly that is NOT the case. Based on the first few days of on line petition signatures, over 30% of respondents are Citizens in the District of Coldstream, just over 10% from Areas B & C with the balance from the City of Vernon.”

He went on to say that some concerns being expressed about increased costs for taxpayers in Coldstream appear to be unfounded.  Some costs may increase such as policing but what about the cost savings of not having three separate administration structures to fund? To use Coldstream as just one example, from 2006 to 2011, the cost of remuneration and expenses for Council, Administration and Staffing rose by $805,210.  That’s an increase of 45% in 5 years.

We reiterate, who is taking the initiative to find cost and efficiency savings in Greater Vernon?  There will be no shortage of need for taxpayer dollars in the future for infrastructure, transit, recreation and cultural facilities. Equally as important, the area needs a unified vision to promote economic development so that job growth can return to the area. 

The society expects to soon be adding mail in petitions as well as petitions lists being collected by volunteer canvassers to our results.  This is a very healthy discussion which has just begun amongst the citizens of Greater Vernon.

For Further Information:    Bruce Shepherd 250-503-0663 or Peter Moore 250-545-2432