Vernon City Council has begun to look at the city's 2009 spending plans. Mayor Wayne Lippert says a ``zero'' budget could be an option. Although property assessments have been frozen, Lippert says it could have a huge impact on whether a resident will pay higher taxes.Resident Al Gilder complained to city council yesterday about a possible tax hike for people in Okanagan Landing. Gilder says he was slapped with a 23-percent hike last year but things in his neighbourhood haven't changed for the better. Gilder says council has added services that people don't want. But another member of the public, Jim Bodkin, urged council to upgrade services and maximize casino revenue.
The RCMP will remain the biggest budget expenditure for the City of Vernon next year. Inspector Steve McVarnock urged council, at a meeting yesterday/Wednesday, to approve four unfunded constables, to help the police cope with its high number of calls. McVarnock says Vernon is understrength and needs more bodies out on the road. He says the Vernon detachment had 330 calls per constable in 2007, a caseload 1/3 higher than for police on the Lower Mainland.
Councillor Bob Spiers says one issue is the funds for fire rescue services which could be rolled into general taxation next year. Council's next budget meeting will take place January 7th.
