Published: February 09, 2010 7:00 PM Morning Star Editorial:
It’s looking more and more like a 2.02 per cent hike in residential taxes for the city of Vernon is going to be a reality. Council gave three readings to the 2010 financial plan Monday and it’s getting a thumbs up from Coun. Buffy Baumbrough. “It allows us to achieve a lot of things in the official community plan and to provide a good level of service,” she said. Coun. Bob Spiers isn’t so sure. He voted to move the plan forward but wants to take an axe to the increase, which is estimated to be $21.30 on the average home. Spiers goes as far as saying he will vote against the budget if it still contains such an increase. So that’s what some of your civic politicians think about their own budget, but more importantly, what do you think? Is it too much of a hike during a recession when everyone else is tightening their belts? Council claims they have been thorough in looking for cost savings, but to the same extent that some of their taxpaying residents and businesses have in being forced to issue layoff notices and cut back on expenses?
Maybe. Maybe not. That’s where you come in. Public input sessions on the financial plan will be held March 1 at 7 p.m. at Paddlewheel Park Hall and March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Schubert Centre. You can also have your say on some of the city’s proposed capital projects, like the plans for the old medical building on 31st Avenue. The tax increase may be close to a done deal but there’s still opportunity to have your say before it’s adopted sometime in March. So, please, speak up.
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