The regional board passed an amendment Wednesday on its five-year financial plan that would see taxes jump by about $10 million in the next four years.

The biggest hit would be next year when the tax requisition leaps from the present $21,741,816 to $28,726,864.

But that, said Cowichan Valley Regional District’s general manager of corporate services, is only if residents in the south vote yes to a new and pool and updated rec centre.

“The lion’s share (of the increase) is for a new Kerry Park,” said Mark Kueber.

Even though a referendum on a new facility doesn’t occur until next month, the CVRD must be able to show the province it has the money to proceed.

“Before we can even go out and ask the public, we have to have the financial information available and included in the five-year plan which we send to the province to show we planned for it and show how we would pay for it and what the impact on the taxpayers would be,” Kueber said.

On Nov. 21. voters in Mill Bay/Malahat, Shawnigan Lake and Cobble Hill will choose whether or not to borrow up to $25 million toward construction of a new pool as well as renovations at the aging rec centre.

If south residents vote “no,” then the five-year plan changes, said Kueber.

“Quite drastically because that $25-million is gone, but then they have to figure out how much is needed for repairs and maintenance (at Kerry Park),” he said.

Only residents of the regional district’s three southernmost areas would be on the hook for the Kerry Park upgrade, should the referendum pass.