Mayor Hoping For Zero Budget

Peter McIntyre Monday, 21 December 2009 11:10107.5 KISSFM

Vernon residents saw their tax bill rise just under 2 percent this year--- but next year, there may be no increase. That's what Mayor Wayne Lippert would like to see but he notes it depends on what capital projects or service levels council approves. "I don't want to see any huge increases in it and I don't think anybody else does either. We need to do some work to keep our infrastructure up. We know our infrastructure is behind." One usual area of pressure is requests for more police officers and firefighters, but Lippert doesn't think that will happen this time. "As far as policing goes, there may be something else needed for support staff but I think they're in pretty good shape. We did most of that (extra officers) last year.With the fire department, I think we've got everybody in place for this year. I don't think we're going to need to add anyone else."

Lippert says city staff have developed a draft budget that's based on a zero increase. Council will hold day long budget discussions on January 13 and 15.

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Vernon City Budget:
Mon, 2009-12-21 11:16.Kate Bouey - Vernon 105.7 SUNFM:

The City of Vernon's finance department has come out with a proposed 2010 budget of just over 24-million dollars, slightly higher than last year. In a letter to council, Finance Manager Kevin Bertles says a significant effort was made to contain and reduce costs to achieve a zero percent budget scenario. However Bertles makes it plain that no new initiatives are included and that it will be up to council to point the way. Documents show the city is suffering from the economic downturn. They state housing starts and building permits are down. The engineering department also complains that the annual capital plan has been eclipsed by current revenue sources and that the problems of failing roads, and sewer and water breaks must be addressed. Mayor Wayne Lippert says it's too early to say whether or not residents will face a tax hike in 2010. He says council won't repeat the mistakes of the past when low city taxes allowed Vernon's infrastructure to fall apart.

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Don Quixote Note: The average Municipal Tax increase last year (2009) was $54.90 which brought the taxes of an average house valued at $414,406 to $1,044,91 which was a 5.54% average increase. ( Information from 2009 Property Tax Handout attached to your 2009 tax bill).

Some people paid more while others paid less because of the tax base shift on fire costs from improvements only to BOTH LAND & improvements.

Moreover, the staff has put in their draft budget that's based on a zero increase that among other things: (P.6 of Draft Budget) 2010-2014 City of Vernon Proposed Financial Plan. there are NO:

• TDM new sidewalks developments:
  
• TDM On Road Cycling Program
• TDM New Trails Program
• No Lake Access Developments
• No New Staff
• 6 other items.(see p.6)
  

These items plus service level adjustment requests that are on page 132 of the budget document will increase taxes as some of these items are accepted by Council.