Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 27, 2010 12:00 PM
Vernonites can have their say on the city’s 2010 budget, including a proposed tax increase. Public input sessions on the financial plan will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at Paddlewheel Park Hall and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Schubert Centre. “It will be good to explain to people how we got there,” said Coun. Jack Gilroy of the two per cent residential tax hike. The impact of a two per cent increase on the average home is estimated at $21.30. According to Gilroy, he hasn’t heard of any opposition to the preliminary budget. “People went through years with zero and then they saw a 17 per cent tax increase,” he said. “We have to raise it a little bit every year just to cover costs.” One per cent of the two per cent will go towards an infrastructure reserve.
However, Coun. Bob Spiers says there is public concern about climbing taxes and the city’s spending habits. “I think you’ll be surprised at the people who will turn out, especially in the Landing,” he said. “They may use it to express their concerns about services in the Landing.” Spiers does not support two per cent and says there is room to reduce the budget to zero or below. “I’d like to revisit the proposed park on the medical clinic site. That alone would save one per cent,” he said. Council and staff have been working on the 2010 budget since late last year.
“This is the fifth year I’ve been on council and this has been the best process over,” said Gilroy. “Staff did an amazing job and a lot of work went into getting it to two per cent.” It’s expected the budget will receive final adoption some time in March although that doesn’t have to occur until May under provincial legislation.
1 comment:
Sounds like Gilroy knows all about the budget.We have to raise a little bit each year to cover costs!Perhaps he should start looking at those costs and see which ones are excessive-like all the additional hiring of staff,wage increases,and politicians at the trough.
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