Majority of Voters said NO to Shuswap Watershed Council Referendum – What now?
The CSRD released the official results on Feb 3, 2024, for the Shuswap Watershed Council (“SWC”) referendum indicating a majority of voters answered NO to the question:
“Are you in favour of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District adopting the Shuswap Watershed Council Service Establishment Bylaw No. 5864, 2023 to establish with Electoral C, D, E, F, G and the District of Sicamous, a service for the purpose of obtaining, coordinating and analyzing water quality monitoring data; protecting and improving water quality; and, promoting recreational water safety within the area and to authorize a maximum annual taxation of $180,000 or $0.0167/$1,000 of net taxable value of land and improvements, whichever is greater?”
A total of 364 ballots were cast for Yes, while a total of 982 ballots were cast for No.
At its March 13 meeting, SWC directors approved a 2024/2025 work plan and budget which is effective on April 1, 2024. The budget included operational expenses totalling $323,170 with partial funding of $150,366 from operating reserves. The reserves include past contributions from the city of Salmon Arm.
On March 25, 2024, Salmon Arm’s city council decided to withdraw future funding of $40,000 from the SWC based on the principle that all entities seated at the SWC table should also be funding the SWC work. It is not known at this time if, because of their funding cancellation, the city of Salmon Arm will be stepping away from the SWC.
SWC staff are looking at alternative funding through grants and other levels of government.