Armstrong rejects Vernon request for RCMP costs

The City of Armstrong is rejecting a request from Vernon to share in the cost of support staff for Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP.

Mayor Chris Pieper said the new contract with the provincial government sees the city paying more for policing, administration and building costs.

He said that’s going boost taxes to the community by two or three times.

“Our stand right now is that we can’t afford it. We’re going to have to pay extra policing costs next year because we increased four police officers,” Pieper said.

That extra officer alone works out to an increase of over 100 thousand dollars.