A review of North Westside governance is moving ahead, but who will pay is causing a furor.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan is receiving $20,000 from the provincial government for a services and community issues review for the North Westside. However, RDCO could also charge Central Okanagan West taxpayers for $22,500 in in-kind costs, such as staff time.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking for the same process that鈥檚 happened everywhere else,鈥� said director Wayne Carson, adding that other communities within RDCO and elsewhere in the province haven鈥檛 been billed directly for in-kind costs for studies.

鈥淭his is a regional initiative and has been dealt with as a regional initiative before.鈥�

What particularly concerns Carson is the study is only for the North Westside but all taxpayers in the Central Okanagan West electoral area, which includes areas near Peachland and West 91大黄鸭, would have to pay for in-kind costs.

鈥淚鈥檝e had areas say they don鈥檛 want to be part of the process. To charge all of Central Okanagan West is unfair,鈥� he said.

RDCO staff say there is no ability to just charge in-kind costs to the North Westside because there isn鈥檛 a specific administrative service for the governance review.

鈥淭hey (all Central Okanagan West residents) will learn and take take advantage of the findings whether it impacts them or not,鈥� said Brian Reardon, chief administrative officer, of broad-ranging benefits.

RDCO鈥檚 insistence that it may not cover in-kind costs will upset North Westside residents, says Carson.

鈥淭hey are proving the case there鈥檚 a disconnect between the North Westside and the regional district.鈥�

At Monday鈥檚 board meeting, most directors refused to consider investigating options for in-kind cost recovery.

鈥淐entral Okanagan West should pay for this. I don鈥檛 care what other jurisdictions have done. I don鈥檛 want to pay for that,鈥� said Luke Stack, a 91大黄鸭 director.

However, there may be an opportunity to discuss the issue of in-kind costs once the terms of reference and scope of services and community issues review are developed.

鈥淲e may be able to revisit it,鈥� said Doug Findlater, board vice-chairperson.