Dennis Walker - Giant FM - Feb 20, 2009 CASTANET:
Eleven employees with the City of Penticton will be receiving pink slips as the City slashed nearly $1 million from its budget Thursday. The City is letting go eight managers and three CUPE positions. Some non-unionized personnel are also being let go. Along with the lay-offs, the City is also putting a ban on overtime and eliminating holiday relief. The measures are expected to reduce the budget by about $900,000. The cuts mean Council will not have to reduce RCMP staffing, a move which had drawn criticism from police and the general public.
City Council also decided it would cut prices for Penticton Vees hockey games for the 2009-2010 season. Adult prices will drop from $16 to $12 per game. Children and seniors prices will also go down. The Vees moved into the new South Okanagan Events Centre at the end of September. Councillor, John Vassilaki, says the move to adjust ticket prices is an effort to bring goodwill back to the public. Meantime, Councillor Mike Pearce, says the next step is to try and bring food and beverage prices down.
Council also discussed transit and ways to get bus routes that aren't that busy filled up. Pearce suggested the idea of smaller buses on night routes that don't have many riders. Councillor Gary Litke, told Council the size of the bus is not the issue. He indicated that regardless of the size, the driver gets paid the same and the driver cost is a bigger expense than fuel.
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