Scott Stanfield
Record Staff
Hornby Island residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of constructing a new fire hall, according to unofficial results from Saturday’s referendum. Numbers released Monday indicate 83 per cent of respondents (623) said yes and 17 per cent (126) said no to a proposed loan authorization bylaw to build a new facility.
There are 834 eligible voters on Hornby, meaning the referendum attracted a 94.6 per cent voter turnout.
An alternate approval process in January prevented the regional district board from adopting the bylaw, prompting the referendum.
The $1.9 million project will be funded by $1.6 million in debt financing, $200,000 in federal gas tax funds and $100,000 from reserves. Hornby property owners will pay an average $24 per year to repay the borrowed funds.