Texada Island residents are being encouraged to participate in Powell River Regional District’s alternative approval process if they oppose the financing of upgrades for the island’s medical clinic.
Texada Island Health Centre in Gillies Bay requires extensive work, including removal and replacement of the existing floor and upgrades to the laboratory room. All island residents are able to access clinical care from the Sanderson Road clinic.
Regional district Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said the board decided to use a mail-in process instead of a traditional vote system to save costs.
“It’s much less expensive for one thing, and it does give every Texada elector an opportunity to have their say,” said McCormick. “I really hope this passes. It is incredibly important.”
The mail-in ballot will cost the regional district approximately $6,000 to conduct, compared to five times that for a traditional referendum.
McCormick said the issue of clinic upgrades should be a lesson to the community to be more proactive in managing its assets.
Residents are being asked whether they support borrowing $225,278 over a 20-year period to pay for the work. Borrowing will result in a $5.78 per $100,000 net taxable house value each year for residential taxpayers.
Ballot packages for the alternative process have been mailed out to all Electoral Area D residents. Deadline for response forms is May 29.
Voters who oppose the proposed borrowing must complete the provided elector response form. Those who agree with the proposed borrowing should not sign the form.
According to the Community Charter, if less than 10 per cent of eligible voters sign the petition, then the proposal may go ahead.
To prevent borrowing from going forward, the regional district will have to receive at least 111 responses by the deadline.
