Quesnel and area residents will head to the polls on Saturday, June 19 to determine if they want local government to invest $20 million into renovating the pool of the Quesnel Arts and Recreation Centre.
The question would approve borrowing the money and increase the tax limit. The estimated residential tax increase due to the project would be $45/$100,000. The project includes people living in Quesnel, and parts of Cariboo Regional District (CRD) areas A, B, C and I, which make up the North Cariboo Recreation and Park Service.
READ MORE: District, city, plan for Quesnel Rec. Centre referendum
The project would see the construction of a new leisure pool complete with lazy river whirlpool and saunas, renovated family change rooms, and replacement of the tile around the existing 25-metre pool. Construction would close the pool for 12-14 months.
Voters can cast a ballot at the Barlow Creek School, Bouchie Lake School, École Red Bluff Lhtako Elementary, Quesnel Seniors’ Centre and even inside the Quesnel Arts and Recreation Centre itself. Voting will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
At a Facebook live event which was watched by nearly 50 people, politicians and city and district staff answered questions from the public. The full video is available on facebook.
Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson fully endorsed the project during the Facebook Live, noting project estimates have increased by $6 million over the past few years.
“If we delay and age the building out, then we’re talking about replacement costs, which would be significantly more, if not close to double the $20 million we’re talking about,” he said.
With early voting, and mail-in ballots, the results of the referendum will not be known until June 23.
READ MORE: CRD approves Quesnel pool referendum date
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