RDOS budget, slim and trim

By JOE FRIES Friday, March 20, 2009 Penticton Herald:

Compared to earlier versions, the 2009 budget that Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors approved on Thursday looks pretty sleek. Weighing in with a tax requisition increase of about eight per cent over last year‘s budget, this year‘s edition is a shadow of the first draft that featured a 13.4 per cent hike. Directors approved a total tax requisition of about $12 million, up from $11,050,000 in 2008. RDOS chairman Dan Ashton said earlier this month that the budget increase was mainly due to a decline in government grants and a reduction in surpluses, which had been used to offset tax hikes in past years. Penticton will see its share of the overall bill rise by six per cent to $1.5 million, which equates to a tax increase for landowners of about two cents for every $1,000 of assessed value. Summerland and Osoyoos face hikes of 7.8 and 6.4 per cent respectively, which also works out to about two cents per $1,000. Oliver, on the other hand, sees its contribution to the RDOS drop by 4.1 per cent, or $33,000, due mainly to the dissolution of the area‘s economic development society. Meanwhile, landowners outside the municipalities will see increases ranging from 2.9 per cent in Area C, Oliver Rural, to 17.8 per cent in Area G, Hedley/Keremeos. The final version of the budget was revised twice, which helped it shed about $500,000 before adoption. And the tweaks continued Thursday afternoon. Cawston director George Hanson was able to convince his colleagues to restore some funding to the Okanagan Film Commission. The board had previously agreed to cut the commission‘s grant from $34,500 to just $22,000, a decision that was reversed Thursday. Hanson noted that just this week it was announced that a $10-million project is set to begin filming soon near Osoyoos. “Contrary to some belief here, we receive a huge economic benefit,” from the grant money, Hanson said. “This will be the second big shoot the RDOS has had in less than 14 months.” Board members then went on to spend the better part of an hour debating Penticton Coun. Andrew Jakubeit‘s proposal to trim $50,000 from the RDOS air-quality program budget. It was determined that in order to preserve previously approved grants from the province, the $50,000 would have to come from the agricultural wood waste program, which sees RDOS staff help growers chip wood waste rather than burn it. Chipping is seen as preferable over burning because it doesn‘t produce smoke and contribute to air pollution. Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson suggested that notion is lost on some urbanites. “It doesn‘t make too much sense to cut out a program that enhances health,” he said, adding, “it‘s archaic” that everyone has to suffer the effects of wood smoke released into the atmosphere. Summerland Coun. Gordon Clark came out in favour of Jakubeit‘s proposal. “We‘ve got to find money somewhere to come out of this budget,” Clark argued, unsuccessfully. The budget eventually passed with only Couns. Jakubeit and Dan Albas in opposition. Prior to the board meeting, Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff announced $653,000 in funding for the RDOS courtesy of the provincial and federal governments. The funds cover things like tree planting and park programs, water-system upgrades and a $1,080 carbon tax rebate.