Vernon approves budget items

CASTANET:
It was a busy Wednesday morning as Vernon City Council continued its budget deliberations. Mayor Wayne Lippert says no final percentage was agreed on for the final tax increase to taxpayers, but council did approve all the outstanding recommendations. “Council approved everything that had been set forward that had been approved initially as recommended by staff. There was also another group of items that had been brought forward as recommended or discretionary that council debated on to put forward, those were called above the line. At this point it looks like a 2.6% increase to general revenue, but council did not want that number there. They gave approval to all the projects, but they sent staff back to look at ways of funding all those projects, be it through 2008 surpluses or possible out of reserves,” says Lippert. He says the final increase will likely be approved Monday. “The budget in terms of projects and service levels adjustments has been approved. Some of the key highlights on that are the transition demand coordinator, as well as for our fire rescue services, there were two new positions approved. One training officer and another fire prevention inspector.” Lippert says all the sewer budget requests were approved as well. “There were 12 requests in all for the sewer budget. That will all be funded through the sewer specified area and DCCs.” Fire cost analysis will also be discussed during Monday’s meeting.