Facing one of the toughest budgets the City of Penticton has seen in a number of years, council made the right move on Monday when it brought out the axe. Or, in this case, the garden shears. The decision to trim the budget for hanging baskets in the city’s downtown was a necessary evil. While snipping $16,500 is just a drop in the bucket, the mood in council chambers these days is one that every little cut is going to help come budget time. Coun. Judy Sentes is correct in her assessment that Penticton is a tourist destination and keeping it beautified with flowers only adds to that ambience. With an economy based largely on tourism, making the downtown look appealing is important but, the time has come to start approaching things differently. Time to think outside of the box.
There is a slowdown worldwide and the legislation that was passed without a second thought, now needs to be scrutinized to ensure that it is getting the maximum benefit for the least amount of dollars. The city contract originally called for 115 hanging baskets ringing in at a cost of $33,000. That number translates to $286.95 per basket, which accounts for the growing, hanging and maintenance costs. Surely, there are other alternatives out there that are more affordable for the city while maintaining the appearance of the downtown area.
Even the Downtown Penticton Association agreed that considering the forecast for the economy the community cannot suffer for flowers. It is also understood by council and businesses that there is a value in keeping the city colourful. The last thing anyone wants is the impression of a cold welcome for visitors. Coun. Andrew Jakubeit, who remains president of the Downtown Penticton Association until the end of December, said that now is the time to look in other directions such as different vendors or smaller baskets. As budget talks begin to heat up, it can be expected that this cut will not be the deepest and the non-essential services will be the first to bleed.
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