'The anatomy of a tax increase' VERNON posting gives an overview of how Council took a staff budget containing a 0% tax increase and reviewed it and morphed it into a 2.02% tax increase. This posting which will be the second of a 3 part post will address the details within the SLA session.
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At the End of the first portion of the budget deliberations before we go into the SLA (Service level adjustments) the tax decrease stood at $386,903 (- 1.598)
The Council changes to the budget in this section were approval of various SLA's (Service Level Adjustments)(P.134 to 218 of original budget 2010-2014 City of Vernon Proposed Financial Plan. - 21.53MB
). A Net Total of $892,533 (+ 3.687%) were added to the budget. Highlights within this section included:- Civic Plaza SLA 21 Originally presented at $584,000. Approval to proceed dependent on Grant of $468,000 application From Building Canada Fund ( requested $466,666). Net of $116,000 put in this budget. If grant not received a portion of these funds will be used to redo entrance way to meet safety concerns. (6-1 vote Spiers opposed)
- THAT Council approves funding for the Firehall Office/Dorm Renovations (item #38) in the amount of $65,000 with $33,000 being allocated from the Building Reserve Fund and the remaining $32,000 being funded as a SLA. Carried
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Asphalt Recycler (item #59) in the amount of $120,000, with $60,000 being funded through taxation and the remaining $60,000 being funded through short term borrowing, or Reserves, with this amount being recovered in full, within the 2011 budget.
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Rock Face Maintenance (item #74) in the amount of $366,000, subject to the funding being allocated over a 10 year period, therefore budgeting $40,000 per year in operating budget. (Safety Liability)
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Summer Sweeping – Equipment Operator II position (item #57) ($28,000 5 months salary + $52,000 yearly equipment costs) in the amount of $80,000. CARRIED with Councillor Nicol and Spiers opposed. (Ongoing Cost)
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Vehicle Detection Camera at 25th Avenue and 34th Street, West Bound (item #67) in the amount of $8,500. CARRIED, with Councillors Baumbrough and Nicol opposed.
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Spare Traffic Signal Camera (item #69) in the amount of $5,000. CARRIED, with Councillor Nicol opposed.
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Decorative Covers for Traffic Signal Controllers (item #22) in the amount of $5,000. CARRIED, with Councillor Nicol opposed.
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Traffic Signal Controller Upgrading Program (item #61) in the amount of $12,000 per year to be budgeted over a 8 year period. CARRIED, with Nicol and Spiers opposed.
- THAT Council approves the creation of a Fire Dispatch Centre Reserve Account and funding in the amount of $100,000 be allocated to this account. CARRIED. SLA #77 presented as $495,072 but acknowledgment of revenue recovery etc. not calculated. Earliest possible implementation 2011. Money budgeted for reserve towards possible implementation of a Vernon Fire Dispatch Centre.
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the two Firefighter Dispatchers (item #75) in the amount of $66,253. CARRIED, 4-3 with Councilors Spiers, Nicol and Lee opposed . The 2 positions will cost $141,253 yearly . For this budget it was offset with an overtime budget reduction of $75,000. (ONGOING COST)
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the Vehicle for Training Officer and Fire Inspector (item #78) in the amount of $30,000. CARRIED. Manager of Finance to determine if the funding for the vehicle can be drawn from the Fire Equipment Reserve Account.
- THAT Council approves the Service Level Adjustment for the training of volunteers for Predator Ridge (item #80) in the amount of $50,000. CARRIED.
- THAT Council approves $214,378.00 operating budget for the O’Keefe Ranch within the Grants General Revenue Account; AND FURTHER, that Council expects the O’Keefe Ranch to reduce their operating grant request, from the City, by a minimum of 20% each year,. DEFEATED, with Councillors Baumbrough, Lee, Spiers and Gilroy and Mayor Lippert opposed.
- THAT Council approves $184,500 as the operating budget for the O’Keefe Ranch within the Grants General Revenue Account, for 2010. CARRIED,4-2 with Councillors Spiers and O’Keefe opposed Nicol Absent). (saving of 32,450 from original budget). Spiers opposed because he wanted to make it a one year grant.(no seconder to that Motion)
At the end of this session the running total for the tax increase was $505,650 (2.089%)
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http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/anatomy-of-tax-increase-details-part-1.html
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