A bid by Bob Spiers for a core review of the City of Vernon's staffing and services has been shot down by the rest of Vernon city council. Ahead of the vote, Spiers read from a prepared statement warning the city was on an ``unsustainable path'' that could not rely forever on tax increases. But councillor Shawn Lee called such a review ``ill-advised'' and councillor Patrick Nichol called instead for an internal review done by city staff. Councillor Mary Jo O'Keefe says she believes the process can be done by city staff. Councillor Jack Gilroy said city staff was always reviewing services. Gilroy says an external review could cost about 80-thousand dollars.Council has approved a motion to meet with staff to review the issues raised by Spiers.
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Don Quixote Note: The "prepared statement " that is referred to is reproduced below.
A Core Service Review is nothing more than the financial section of our OCP that openly examines the City’s operations, service delivery and performance. It will provide a plan to ensure that all the core services (such as infrastructure,Police and Fire, water and sewer) are delivered in the most efficient manner and the future funding is sustainable.
It will provide an evaluation of all other non-core but essential and valued services and make recommendations on how and whether they are sustainable in the future.
It may provide different methods of delivering services at a lower cost, and may lead us to new revenue sources so we continue to provide both core and non-core but essential services.
It may identify opportunities to reduce or eliminate services that are unnecessary or redundant.
I can not predict what an external value for money audit will bring but I have no doubt that it will be well worth the cost and bring us savings on a multi-fold basis. This 1 time cost will be more than offset by future yearly ongoing savings and expanded revenue sources.
Without this review I can see only greatly increasing business and residential property taxes as the means to continue along our chosen path.
Our CFO has challenged this council “to start on the road to achieving a robust financial position by 2014”
A Core Service review will be this years first steps down the road to achieving that robust financial position.
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