Sooke backed another look at Gathering Place. Borrowing still needs approval

Sooke voters backed further consideration of the proposed Gathering Place intergenerational centre, but the result leaves financing and project approvals for future decisions.

The district's official results, posted in an October 21 notice, record 2,687 Yes votes and 1,813 No votes on the non-binding question. That is about 60% Yes among the 4,500 votes recorded for the question.

The ballot asked whether Sooke should consider borrowing up to $5 million for construction and initial operational start-up of a centre on district-owned property at 6671 Wadams Way. It did not ask voters to approve a final borrowing plan.

What happens next?

The district's project explanation says staff were directed to bring further information back to council if a majority voted Yes. The results notice says the vote does not authorize borrowing, approve construction or commit the land.

Its illustrative maximum-borrowing scenario assumes a 20-year term and 4% interest: about $367,909 a year in debt servicing, equivalent to an estimated 2.55% increase in municipal property taxes, or $51.03 annually for an average residential property.

Those are estimates, not an approved tax increase. They exclude the facility's ongoing operating, maintenance and renewal costs, which the district says remain undetermined. The percentage applies to the municipal portion of the tax bill; individual impacts would vary.

Incoming council is scheduled to be sworn in November 2. Any advancing borrowing proposal would require updated public financial information and the applicable approvals.