Published: April 07, 2009 7:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star
The City of Vernon’s proposed 2009 budget could be written in stone today, but one veteran politician hopes it can still be stopped. Council will meet at 9:30 a.m. to consider adoption of the financial plan, including a 1.99 per cent tax hike for the average home. However, Coun. Patrick Nicol says his colleagues must reconsider the financial implications for taxpayers. “I’m hopeful council will listen to the economy and reconsider some of the obvious things that have already been discussed,” he said. Among the items that need to be looked at, says Nicol, are revenue estimates and budgeting a full year for staff that haven’t been hired yet. But Mayor Wayne Lippert isn’t personally interested in reopening the budget. “I’m pretty pleased with where things are at,” he said, adding that the needs of the community are being met by the document. “If we do any changes, we will put them off to next year.” 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.
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