Photo: Colin Dacre
Monday is the last day to respond to a survey on poverty in the central Okanagan.
You can take the quiz and share your stories with the Central Okanagan Regional District here. The survey also includes questions related to DRCO’s Regional Housing Strategy (ERS).
RDCO will host an online community forum on poverty and well-being on Wednesday, March 2 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. You can pre-register here.
One in six children and 15% of the total population in the central Okanagan live in poverty. The rising cost of living has increased demand for food banks and housing costs are leaving many people behind.
The Regional Housing Strategy is being driven by a $149,000 grant from the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) aimed at improving the well-being of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The goal of the project is to provide everyone in the Central Okanagan with a real and fair chance at success through improved policies, practices and resources. The development of a housing strategy for the region is expected to be completed in June.
Also this week, the DRCO will hold its first meeting on the updated five-year financial plan.
Presentations and other information on the 2022-2026 financial plan will be presented at two DRCO meetings this Thursday, March 3 and Thursday, March 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Interested residents can watch the live stream or the registration, then send their comments by mail. or by email until March 11, 2022.
The financial plan incorporates strategic priorities for the next five years, including focus areas such as the environment, transportation and sustainable communities.
Unlike municipalities, the regional district does not have a single tax rate. The RDCO has more than 80 individual services delivered and paid for by different ratepayer combinations in the central Okanagan. Each service budget is separate and all assets, revenues, expenses, reserves, surpluses or deficits remain within the service.
The board is due to approve the updated financial plan at its March 28 meeting, beginning at 7 p.m.
