Mayor seeks balance between services and taxes

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 13, 2011 6:00 PM
Vernon’s mayor insists that running a municipality is a balancing act.  Wayne Lippert expects much of the city’s focus in 2011 will revolve around offering the services residents demand or require while ensuring that the community is a financially sustainable place to live.  “The biggest challenge for council will be managing the budget and how we provide services,” he said.  “Look at Penticton and the Okanagan-Similkameen regional district and they chopped a bunch of positions. But now they’re scrambling to see how they provide services. It’s one thing to keep taxes to zero or reduce them but how do you provide services?”  A recent report from the Canadian Federation of Business claims Vernon’s operating spending growth in 2008 was 2.61 per cent greater than population and inflation growth. However, Lippert says the city has a long tradition of analyzing how it operates, including each department cutting its budget by one per cent and a consultant looking at each division to determine efficiencies.  “It makes people aware of what’s going on,” he said.  In terms of the 2011 budget, council has provided staff to develop a document that is close to a zero per cent residential tax increase. Lippert believes that goal is realistic.  “It will come down to whether we can hold it there and provide the same level of service,” he said.

The city is also looking to bolster the local economy through a variety of measures. Among them is an advisory committee of people who bring a variety of skills to the table.  “They have contacts out there and what improves the economy is business people being your best advertisers,” said Lippert.  He says a similar approach proved beneficial with social issues like affordable housing, homelessness and crime.  “We got people together that had skills and a passion to do things. Huge changes have been made downtown.”  Lippert is aware of a couple of investors that are interested in Vernon, and while he won’t get into details, he is hopeful they will set up shop here.  “The signs are there that the economy is starting to move again,” he said, adding that another focus for the city is promoting Vernon as a tourist destination.  “People still want to come to the Okanagan. We want to keep the message out there that we’re a great place to visit and live.”  Beyond internal matters, the city plays a role regionally through the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee and the North Okanagan Regional District.  During parts of 2010, Vernon found itself in conflict with its partners over the future of the water and parks and recreation functions. However, Lippert says the negative aspects of the relationship have been overplayed.  “I believe it will all get sorted out. The perception is the relationship is strained and that happens, but the reality is all of the services are being provided,” he said.  “The discussions over Greater Vernon water have been going on for years but people can still turn on their taps. There are issues with the parks and recreation review, but the parks are still open and people still go to the beaches.”  Lippert is in the midst of his second term in office and he appears ready to seek a third three-year term when voters head to the polls in November.  “As long as I feel that I have something to contribute, I will run again,” he said.  “I try to listen to people and their concerns and I think I still have a lot to contribute. I have a three-year contract and it’s up to the residents to renew it.”