It has been almost a year since the Golden Civic Centre had its grand opening, but there is one component that is yet to be complete.
The kitchen, which has a budget of $120,000, is the only component holding the Civic Centre back from being a full-service facility.
“We’ve been aware for a fair length of time that we don’t have any money to complete this project,” said Mayor Christina Benty.
The project was given a $60,000 grant from the Columbia Basin Trust, and council is asking for agreement from the Area A Director to get the additional $60,000 from the Economic Opportunities Fund (EOF).
The EOF is made of payment in leu of taxes money from BC Hydro. The Columbia Shuswap Regional District holds the funds, and there must be agreement from town council and the Area A Director as to how to spend those funds.
“We’ve already been given an extension on the CBT grant, and we have to use that money by the end of January, or at least start to use that money by the end of January. And we need matching funds,” said Benty. “We have not spent any economic opportunity funds. I don’t have the exact amount that’s left in that fund… but we haven’t spent any of it.”
Council agreed to make the request given that there is limited time left before the $60,000 from the CBT is taken back, and that no local property tax dollars would be put toward the project.
