Numbers don't add up

This is a letter to the Editor of the Morning Star on March 10 that I am posting WITH the permission of the author Mike Pennock.

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There is a phrase that Vernon city councillors are trying to tell the citizens of Okanagan Landing: HICA (Here It Comes Again).

Some of the city councilors owe the Landing citizens a public apology for trying to pull the wool over their eyes in the latest no-thought decision on fire taxation. Stating that the Landing has been free loading to the tune of $489,693 in services is crap. In fact the taxes collected from the Landing area for fire rescue services are reflective of the actual costs of the service that is being offered by a volunteer fire hall in the Landing and administration costs of the downtown hall.

It is time to put our thinking caps on and remember the statement made by previous fire chief John Lysholm. He said that the First Medical Responder (FMR) would not cost the taxpayers any extra. In fact it was a way to enhance medical response, with the ambulance service, and keep the downtown firefighter contingent busy in between other calls. The costs to run the FMR program are approximately $20,000 per year. How does council come up with a number that says the Landing residents have been getting $362,136 worth of free FMR service a year? The numbers are presented in a way that helps them make a decision, that’s how. The presentation to council to help decide on the taxing of fire rescue services shows a cost of $1,574,093 for FMR, how is this possible for a no-cost service? It is not possible. This cost will not go away if the service is no longer offered. The cost is part of the cost of running a fully-manned fire hall no matter what type of emergency they are responding to. Landing residents have not been freeloading.

In 1993, when the Landing became part of the city of Vernon, the council of the day was bright enough to see the savings in keeping the volunteer fire rescue services and taxed the Landing residents accordingly. The move by the current council to tax the Landing the same as the rest of the city of Vernon for fire rescue service has done nothing more than open the door for millions of dollars in increased fire costs over the next few years to all the taxpayers of Vernon. The increase will be required to bring the Landing the same fire rescue service as the rest of the City of Vernon, a fully-manned hall. Or is it again one of those things we pay equal tax on and don’t get, like sidewalks, streetlights, and wastewater services? Vernon city council, it is time to take a stand and realize what you have in the Okanagan Landing Volunteer Fire Hall. It is a great service and huge tax savings to the citizens of Vernon.

Landing residents contact your council and express your concerns about the latest move to integrate taxation. Most homes in the Landing are above average assessment so the integration will cost Landing residents dearly. Speak up now or HICA.

Mike Pennock