Construction Continues On Vernon's Active Living Centre Without Regional Cost-Sharing
The City of Vernon is proceeding with its estimated $135.9 million Active Living Centre after voters approved borrowing for the project in a 2022 referendum.
Despite the facility's regional significance, no formal agreements for cost-sharing with neighboring communities, including Coldstream and the BX-Swan Lake area, were established during the planning stages.
Coldstream and the BX-Swan Lake areas did not contribute financially to the project's construction costs, which has left Vernon taxpayers primarily shouldering the financial burden. Increased property taxes are anticipated to cover these costs.
There's no official record of parties revisiting funding discussions after the facility is operational, but existing agreements between Vernon, Coldstream, and BX-Swan Lake for recreational services could potentially allow for renegotiation in the future.
In the absence of regional funding contributions, residents of Coldstream and BX-Swan Lake will likely face higher user fees to access the new facility compared to Vernon residents, who, as primary funders, could receive benefits like discounted fees or priority access.
No specific details on fee structures or access privileges have been officially announced.
The Active Living Centre is set to become a major hub for recreation in the region, but the current funding arrangement underscores a divide in cost-sharing and accessibility among the area's communities.
The initial amount for the Vernon Active Living Centre project, as approved by voters in the 2022 referendum, was $121 million. However, this amount later increased to a maximum cost of $135,941,009 as per updates in April 2024.
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