Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 05, 2010 12:00 PM
The North Okanagan’s rural jurisdictions are preparing to fight against municipal annexations. A study will be done to consider the impact of incremental annexations in the five electoral areas. “There is no mechanism for us to say no,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director, adding the survey will target current provincial government policy. “Municipalities can’t poach from another municipality but electoral areas are fair game. We’re tired of it and we’ll start making some noise about it.” Virtually all of Macnabb’s concerns revolve around his neighbour, the City of Vernon. “Vernon has enough developable land for 25 years but there’s always this desire to annex,” he said of one or two properties at a time being absorbed. “The last five parcels that went into the city were in the Agricultural Land Reserve and that goes counter to their official community plan.” Macnabb is also concerned that annexations eat away at his jurisdiction’s property tax base. “We still have to pay for the fire department, policing and other services. There’s an economic impact for us,” he said, adding that the city’s taxpayers also lose out when Vernon expands its boundaries. “They will be on the hook for policing, roads and all kinds of things.”
Jack Gilroy, a Vernon councillor, denies the city is intentionally trying to take over rural areas. “If people there want to move into the city, we aren’t going to say no,” he said. “We don’t ask people to join, they come to us.” Gilroy believes annexation applications to the provincial government are a result of electoral area residents not receiving services they require. “People want water and sewer, and they join the city for it.” Gilroy denies annexing properties undermines Macnabb’s revenue. “What does he do with his tax base? How much does he collect?” said Gilroy. While much of the study’s focus will be on the two electoral areas next to Vernon, rural Lumby and rural Enderby also face the prospect of annexations from adjacent municipalities.
4 comments:
The heading reads, "Rural area fights annex": Besides Macnabb who else was ever consulted in the BX-Silver Star area.
It is inevitable that these areas will join Vernon. Imagine the reduction in costs by eliminating Directors salaries alone and time wasted on petty ideas.
Bahaha, more like petty cash!
Robert, check your math: we could save as much as $30,000 a year if we eliminated Director Macnabb!
Good luck finding ANY municipality that will spend only $30,000 to take over the 4,000 residents who live in BX/Silver Star.
For starters, a municipality has to cover 100% of the costs of policing and road maintenance. In electoral areas, the province covers most of these costs. Just think of all those well-maintained roads in the BX!
As history has shown us, time and time again, AMALGAMATION will ALWAYS be more expensive.
There are good reasons why the province is such a great promoter of amalgamation - more options for downloading! - but in Greater Vernon, all of us taxpayers would wind up paying MORE for the SAME.
There is no cheaper outcome.
If we pay Macnabb $30,000 per year, that is news to me. What a waste of funds if that is correct.
What a waste of fact-checking, while you, Robert, cough out another ignorant comment... Check NORD's financial plan and expense reports if you don't think it is correct.
Which among us City of Vernon residents wants to pay more taxes? Why should we want the City to take over any more lands from electoral areas? How does this land-grab help us current residents in any way?
Every piece of annexed property costs us all more, because that land comes with roads and other formerly provincial obligations that will be up to the City to maintain.
BIGGER is not always BETTER.
Robert, are you saying you want to pay higher taxes to the city, while still living with rural standards?
What was promised to OK Landing before 1993's annexation is still to be delivered. Other than more development, little has changed in Area A.
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