Wednesday Nov. 26, 2014 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST INCLUDED
Going for the rings Grace Foulger gasps for air after collecting two rings from the bottom of the pool during public swimming at the Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union Rec Centre.
EVAN BUHLER/OBSERVER
Council objects to library cuts
Budgeting: Coun. Alan Harrison argues in favour of a baseline funding model for branches. By Martha Wickett OBSERVER STAFF
Some members of Salmon Arm council have vowed to fight cutbacks proposed for the local library and other small libraries in the region. Council has been told that, come April 2015, hours of staff time at the library will be reduced, and Sunday openings will be eliminated. Coun. Alan Harrison voiced his objections to the way the cuts across the region have been determined. In 2013, the Okanagan Regional Library hired an accounting firm to review spending levels at
all branches and verify that expenditures at each branch match local and provincial funding allocations for them. Where spending is higher than revenue, service levels are being reduced. Harrison disagrees with the premise. “If you go to the spread sheet there,” he said at the Nov. 10 meeting of council, “basically every small community loses, and every large community wins.” He said the formula doesn’t make sense if densities are taken into account. He points out that a bigger branch has more taxpayer funding, so revenue is larger than
expenses. In smaller branches, resented Salmon Arm on the were complaining. there’s less taxpayer funding, so 24-member library board when “I understand what you’re sayexpenses are higher than revenue. the issue came up about three ing; there should be a baseline.” Harrison notes library She asked if council operating costs are similar would like members of If you go to the spread sheet regardless of the number of the library board to come there, basically every small and explain the plan to taxpayers to fund them. community loses, and every them. “My argument is there large community wins... If should be a base level of Coun. Chad Eliason funding.” it continues to go this way, agreed with Harrison. He noted the school dis“This looks like it will small libraries will not be trict budget works on basebe a bigger issue. We’re able to operate. level funding, so that smallthe largest in the CSRD, er communities can have a Alan Harrison so if we don’t stand up for school. the smaller branches, noCITY COUNCILLOR “We need to fight for our body will… I agree with situation… If it continues to Coun. Harrison and thank go this way, small libraries will years ago and she voted for the him. I hope we can do more to not be able to operate.” plan. She said a lengthy analysis save the jobs and save the fundMayor Nancy Cooper rep- was done because communities ing.”
This week A Salmon Arm RCMP constable is honoured for his help in saving a woman and her dog. See A4. A former national jump rope champion wows SMS students with her skills. See A17.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A15-A18 Arts & Events ... A19-A21 Time Out................... A22 Vol. 107, No. 48, 66 pages