The Regional District of North Okanagan can now borrow $28 million to build the proposed Greater Vernon Cultural Centre.
It’s the second time Vernon area voters have approved taking a multi-million-dollar loan for the project.
However, there is optimism that this time, the new facility will actually be built.
This week the regional district announced voters had approved the borrowing through an alternate approval process.
That process requires voters to weigh in if they don’t want the borrowing to go ahead.
The government has the authorization to take out the loan unless at least 10 per cent of voters register their objection.
Less than 400 voters filled out the form to oppose the borrowing by Monday’s deadline.
That’s only a fraction of the more than 5,600 voters which would have needed to formally object for the borrowing to be blocked.
It’s good news for supporters of the cultural centre facility, which is supposed to be the new home of Vernon’s public art gallery and museum.
Among other things, the new space would have proper humidity and temperature controls and make it possible for the art gallery to bring a wider range of exhibitions than it can currently accommodate.
In 2018, voters originally approved borrowing millions for the building in a referendum.
However, almost four years later the proposed site in downtown Vernon is still a parking lot after the plan hit several snags including failing to secure grant funding.
Recently officials scaled down the building and in March sought permission through an alternate approval process to borrow slightly more for the project: $28 million, three million more than the $25-million voters approved in the 2018 borrowing referendum.
Critics of the borrowing argue local government should be prioritizing spending on things like recreation or social issues and that the extra cost puts a financial strain on those taxpayers already having trouble making ends meet.
Borrowing for the project is expected to cost the average household $49 per year for 20 years.
“We’re, I think, confident that the bulk of the community is on board with this. It has been a long-term desire of the community to have a new cultural facility and I think this just allows us to go ahead and do that,” said Regional District of North Okanagan area director Bob Fleming.
There is no word on when construction might start but the loan authorization is a major step towards making the cultural centre a reality.
“As it starts to unfold I think it will generate a lot of excitement and interest,” Fleming said, “and I hope that sometime in the next two to three years, people will be able to walk through the doors (of) a new cultural facility.”
Meanwhile, fundraising is also underway for the project and the art gallery hopes that will help add more square footage to the scaled-down design.
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