Council sets city tax rate

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: April 09, 2009 6:00 PM

Last-ditch efforts weren’t enough to keep the City of Vernon’s 2009 budget from being approved. Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to adopt the new financial plan, including a 1.99 per cent tax increase for the average assessed home. Opposition came from Councillors Patrick Nicol and Bob Spiers. “This process doesn’t take into account the state of the economy,” said Nicol, who claims the budget doesn’t accurately reflect revenue and it includes full-year funding for employees that haven’t been hired. “Citizens have every right to be alarmed as to what has gone on with this budget.”

A 1.99 per cent tax hike will mean an extra $19.75 for the average home, but the true impact will depend on the assessed value of each property. Okanagan Landing residents are anticipated to pay about $80 more for integration of fire taxation. Vacant property will also be levied for fire protection. “The 1.99 per cent is a mythical number,” said Nicol.

However, Coun. Buffy Baumbrough defends the budget. “We have considered the economic climate and given that, this is a reasonable increase,” she said. A recent input meeting drew a crowd of more than 70 people, and Spiers insists their views were not reflected in a report staff issued to council. “Comments about changing the tax base from improvements to land and improvements were not even mentioned in the report,” he said.

Mayor Wayne Lippert stands behind administration. “Staff did a fair job of representing public input. Most of council was here for the input session and heard what the discussion was,” he said. The Vernon Taxpayers Association is upset that a special meeting was held Wednesday so the budget could be adopted instead of the matter being addressed at council’s regular meeting April 14. “It shows the utter contempt for public opinion and input,” said Tony Stamboulieh, association spokesman. “The hall was packed with people (for the input session) not interested in the budget going ahead in its present form.”

Officials, though, insist a special meeting was required to meet provincial laws that stipulate the budge must be approved by mid-May. “If there were changes made Wednesday, we would have needed to bring back amendments April 14 and with it now adopted, we need to implement the rates bylaw and there are only three meetings left, including the one April 14,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer.