Council Cuts Tax Hike To 2% Written by Peter McIntyre Friday, 10 February 2012 15:40

Written by Peter McIntyre Friday, 10 February 2012 15:40 
Vernon council has managed to get this year's budget increase down to two percent, a big drop from the earlier eight percent.  Mayor Rob Sawatzky says most of the cuts came from putting some infrastructure projects on hold. "Some of our capital works projects, we tried to balance that.You try to make sure you're not deferring capital works and maintenance that is going to cost you more money later on, and you hoped you've made wise decisions that way." Sawatzky says the two percent hike would add 20 dollars to the average homeowner's tax bill. He says council has had to deal with an eight percent jump in fixed costs for firefighters retroactive pay (1%), a pavement management plan (5%), and cost of living hikes (about 2%). "So that's right around eight percent that you're handed right off the start, so I think council and staff did good work to get it that level." Sawatzky says the budget is expected to be approved by council after another public input session, expected to be held in the next couple weeks. He says the next priority for council is hiring a new chief administrative officer. The application period closed at the end of January and Sawatzky says they had a lot of interest, but wasn't sure of the exact number.

New loonies, toonies to be released by spring; $40 M in upgrades expected for vending machines

ctvwinnipeg.ca  Fri Jan. 13 2012 17:43:05

The Royal Canadian Mint is releasing new loonies and toonies made out of steel instead of nickel and copper in an effort to cut down cost. "What that gives the tax payer, basically, is a savings…an annual savings of up to $15 million a year," explained Alex Reeves from the Mint. For some businesses, though, the coins will mean an extra expense. Colin Stone owns a vending machine business. He said the new coins mean upgrades for the thousands of machines he supplies or maintains in Winnipeg. "The new coin will have a new, magnetic signature on it," he said. "So we'll have to just reprogram all of the acceptors to take and accept the new coins." Those upgrades will cost the vending machine industry around $40 million across the country. Those in the industry describe the changes as cutthroat and say the time it will take to reprogram the machines can make or break a business. The old loonies and toonies will remain in circulation and will work in vending and parking machines.
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Don Quixote Note: These new coins will not be accepted by the parking meters we have in Vernon. In this years budget we will have to approve a $77,000 cost for upgrading our existing parking meters to accept the new Loonies and toonies. (this is a 77,000/241,792 = .32% tax increase.

Employment Opportunity at City of Vernon

Download - 82.79KB pdf
BUILDING SERVICES MANAGER (Full-time) Exempt

Competition #: 0065-COV-09
Closing Date: August 17th, 2009
Rate of Pay: $72,250.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Salary Range
Band: Exempt – 5

Reporting to the Manager, Operation Services, this position is responsible for the maintenance and repair of City owned or leased buildings and properties. The incumbent oversees contractor services at various City facilities, buildings, grounds and parking areas. This position is responsible for the implementation of an energy management program for facilities and other sites.

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 23, 2009 7:00 PM Hiring delay saves money

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 23, 2009 7:00 PM

Delaying hiring a new manager for historic O’Keefe Ranch will save the City of Vernon close to $19,000. The city’s finance manager, Kevin Bertles, explained at a committee of the whole meeting Monday that the city has budgeted $58,081.95 for the ranch manager’s salary. But because new manager Catherine Lord wasn’t hired, and didn’t begin work at the ranch, until mid-May, the city will save $18,881.95. That money will offset costs for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning replacement at the ranch, estimated to be $30,000. Lord took over as ranch manager from Tom Danyk, whose contract with the city was not renewed after four years in the position. Largely because of Danyk’s severance, the ranch was looking at a $46,178 shortfall for 2009. But the city agreed to provide an extra $45,800, bringing its total financial support to $260,178. Lord plans to give council an update on what’s happening with and at the ranch at the July 13 council meeting.

City more than $3M in the black

Wayne Moore - Jun 2, 2009 CASTANET:

The City of Kelowna has a budget surplus of nearly $3.1 million for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008. Special Projects Manager, Lynn Walter, says the 2008 surplus amounts to 3.5% of the total 2008 tax demand. "The city is not allowed to budget for a deficit, so we try and budget for a surplus less than 5% of taxation," says Walter. Walter told council Monday three main areas contributed to the surplus, including $1.5 million in higher than anticipated investment income, $700,000 in savings from Works, Utilities and Engineering projects and $800,000 in savings in salaries and wages. "The report also explains where surpluses are being expropriated to as recommended by the audit committee. It should be noted those recommended appropriations are consistent with the 10-year capital plan and the 2009 financial plan."

Walter says funds will be distributed as following:

• $95,000 - General Fund Surplus
  
• $600,000 - Arterial Roads Reserve
  
• $100,000 - Non-Arterial Roads
  
• $500,000 - Snow Removal
  
• $400,000 - Civic Facilities
  
• $100,000 - RCMP Building
  
• $500,000 - Parks Purchase and Development
  
• $400,000 - Off-Road Bikeway
  
• $200,000 - Financial Major Systems
  
• $200,000 - Fringe Benefit Load.

Vernon adopts 1.99 tax rate

Vernon Morning Star May 14:

The City of Vernon’s 2009 budget is now written in stone after final adoption of the tax rates bylaw. “The city’s tax calculator is online. You can see the affect of the budget we passed,” said Coun. Bob Spiers, who opposed the budget with Coun. Patrick Nicol. The tax increase for an average assessed home is 1.99 per cent but Spiers has said it will be higher for many homes because of a shift in fire protection taxation and land (not just improvements) being levied for firefighting services.

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Don Quixote Note: The actual City portion of the taxes for the average house is 3.4% or $34.56 for the City of Vertnon taxpayer with the Okanagan Landing Taxpayer having a 13.2% increase or $121.83. NORD reductions will reduce the $amount down in both cases by $18.99. The average house is defined as a property valued at $414,406. ($196,843 land and $217,563 for Improvements) Check here for Calculation:

The City of Vernon's tax Calculator is now on line. Both residents and businesses can put in their property values to ascertain their tax situation for 2009.

Check Your Tax Bill

Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 12 May 2009 107.5 KISSFM:

Vernon residents and businesses can go on-line to find out how much their city tax bill will be this year. Mayor Wayne Lippert says now that the new tax rates have been adopted, the city has added a "property tax estimator" on its website. "The calculator is there so that now that they have their assessment, they'll be able to use that calculator to determine what their taxes will be."

Click HERE to access the estimator.

The city's new budget includes an overall tax hike of 1.99 percent, but the impact on each property will depend on the assessed value.

Property Tax Calculator (VERNON 2009)

The Property value used for Comparative Purposes only is the Vernon Average House for 2009 of $414,406. ($196,843 land and $217,563 for Improvements)

The City of Vernon's tax Calculator is now on line. Both residents and businesses can put in their property values to ascertain their tax situation for 2009.

RESIDENTIAL HOUSE in City of VERNON (ROC)

The estimated values are only valid for residential properties (Class 01).

	2008		2009		Difference		Change
Assessed Value	414,406		414,406		0		0.0%
Tax Levies
School	$870.96		$886.95		$16.00		1.8%
Municipal	$1,010.43		$1,044.99		$34.56		3.4%
Library	$60.50		$64.69		$4.19		6.9%
Regional District	$504.59		$485.60		$-18.99		-3.8%
BC Assessment	$25.49		$26.56		$1.08		4.2%
MFA	$0.08		$0.08		$0.00		0.0%
Hospital	$73.97		$76.87		$2.90		3.9%
Estimated Tax Levy	$2,546.02		$2,585.75		$39.74		1.6%

RESIDENTIAL HOUSE in Okanagan Landing

The estimated values are only valid for residential properties (Class 01).

	2008		2009		Difference		Change
Assessed Value	414,406		414,406		0		0.0%
Tax Levies
School	$870.96		$886.95		$16.00		1.8%
Municipal	$923.16		$1,044.99		$121.83		13.2%
Library	$60.50		$64.69		$4.19		6.9%
Regional District	$504.59		$485.60		$-18.99		-3.8%
BC Assessment	$25.49		$26.56		$1.08		4.2%
MFA	$0.08		$0.08		$0.00		0.0%
Hospital	$73.97		$76.87		$2.90		3.9%
Estimated Tax Levy	$2,458.75		$2,585.75		$127.00		5.2%

Property Tax Estimator (KELOWNA)

Values shown are based on the approved 2009 budgets for School Board, City of Kelowna (municipal), Library, Regional District, BC Assessment, Hospital and SIR Program. (SIR Program only based on land assessment, assume land assessment is 50% of total assessment for this estimate.) The values are only valid for residential properties (Class 01). 2008 2009 Difference Change Assessed Value $414,406 $414,406 $0 0.0% Tax Levies School $787.16 $808.09 $20.93 2.7% Municipal $1,265.06 $1,313.17 $48.11 3.8% Library $61.66 $64.81 $3.15 5.1% Regional District $112.35 $117.03 $4.68 4.2% BC Assessment $25.49 $26.56 $1.07 4.2% Hospital $106.17 $111.02 $4.85 4.6% SIR Program $9.32 $9.39 $0.07 0.8% Total Tax Levy $2,367.21 $2,450.07 $82.86 3.5% Note: Total taxes shown are for the taxable portion of your property's assessment and do not include local services taxes (specified area charges, parcel taxes, garbage and landfill charges) or any reductions for Home Owner Grants. Don Quixote Note: The house value used for Comparative Purposes only is the Vernon Average House for 2009 of $414,406. ($196,843 land and $217,563 for Improvements) When Vernon's tax calculator is put up later this week a similiar table for VERNON will be posted. Kelowna's tax calculator can be found here.

Kelowna homeowners face 3.49% tax hike

Adrian Nieoczym - Kelowna Capital News Published: May 05, 2009 10:00 PM

City of Kelowna homeowners will see their municipal taxes increase an average of 3.49 per cent this year and their total property tax bills increase an average of 6.1 per cent. Kelowna city council unanimously approved the increases at its meeting Monday. Council was scheduled to hold a special meeting today to give final reading to its 2009 financial plan. The 3.49 per cent increase is slightly more than the 3.35 per cent increase proposed in the provisional budget tabled earlier this year. Since the provisional budget, the city has had to come up with more money for transit and approved a graffiti eradication and prevention program. As well, the provincial and federal governments put infrastructure money on the table, provided the city came up with its share. “We understand the economy is very tough for people out here,” said Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd after Monday’s meeting. “I just feel that our council did the best they could in recognizing that we wanted to maintain a level of services,” and keep the community viable. Costs associated with the new H20 Aquatic Centre in the Mission account for 1.7 of the 3.49 per cent increase.

In the month leading up to the provincial election, Kelowna saw $28 million in new capital projects announced in partnership with senior levels of government. The city managed to come up with most of its $9 million share from reserve funds, gas tax revenues and development cost charges. Only $112,000 will come from general taxation. “We are very pleased that we were able to accommodate the $28 million in infrastructure projects that were not planned for within our budget through the reserve component that we have,” said Shepherd. For the owner of a single family home assessed at $492,800 in 2009, municipal taxes will increase approximately $52. Residents will also see a $55 increase to the garbage collection/reduction fee, to $177, to cover the new automated recycling and waste collection program and changes in the recycling market.

Other changes ratepayers will notice on their tax bills include a 2.3 per cent increase to the school tax levy, a 3.6 per cent increase to the regional district levy, a 4.2 per cent increase to the hospital levy, a 4.8 per cent increase to the library levy and a 3.9 per cent increase to the B.C. assessment charge. The average homeowner will pay $2,520 in property taxes, an increase of $145.76 over last year. In total, $219 million in capital projects will go forward in Kelowna this year. Among the larger projects are the Glenmore Bypass, the widening of Gordon Drive and the construction of Stuart Park. The city is also building an active transportation network that will see off-street pathways along Lakeshore Road, Gordon Drive and Houghton Road and the expansion of the Abbot Street Recreation Corridor.A pathway will also be constructed along Cawston Avenue to connect the downtown to Rails with Trails.

Homeowners bracing for tax hike

Ron Seymour 2009-05-05 Kelowna Daily Courier:
Kelowna property taxes are forecast to rise more than 15 per cent in the next five years, council heard Monday. The projection was delivered by city finance officials as council gave formal approval to a municipal tax increase of 3.5 per cent for this year. The owner of a typical Kelowna home assessed at $492,000 will pay an extra $52 in municipal taxes in July. However, when other local charges are factored in ñ for things such as the school district, garbage system, hospital and library ñ the average total tax bill will rise six per cent, from $2,372 to $2,520, after the homeowner grant deduction. After the council meeting, Mayor Sharon Shepherd said she thought the municipal tax increase of 3.5 per cent was reasonable despite the economic downturn. We understand the economy is very tough for people out there,î Shepherd said. ìI just feel council did the best they could in maintaining the level of service. Shepherd said this year’s budget deliberations, at 15 hours, were the longest in the 13 years she’s been on council, reflecting the degree of care and attention brought to the discussions.

Since the budget was given preliminary approval ñ with the tax increase initially forecast at 3.4 per cent - Shepherd said she hadn’t heard many objections from residents. The five-year plan calls for tax increases of 3.5 per cent in 2010, 2.9 per cent in 2011, 3.6 per cent in 2012 and 2.0 per cent in 2013. These are, of course, estimates, and council is not held to them, said finance director Keith Grayston. The biggest change from the preliminary budget was the addition of $28 million in new capital projects, with two-thirds of the funding coming from the provincial and federal governments.

The city’s share is $9 million, but virtually all of that comes from reserve funds and development cost charges, so there was virtually no impact on taxation. "This is the time to invest in critical infrastructure, benefiting from lower construction costs, while at the same time stimulating the economy," Shepherd said. Announced over the past few months, the new capital projects include the widening of Gordon Drive and Highway 33, and off-road pathways along Lakeshore Road and Cawston Avenue.

Councillor takes another shot at budget

Published: April 30, 2009 6:00 PM Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

A Vernon politician claims the city’s 2009 budget ignores the wishes of the public. Coun. Bob Spiers told his colleagues Monday that not enough time was spent looking at the business plan, and that there was “limited and selected” staff response to input garnered at a public meeting. “There were 70 or 80 people there and we spent five minutes talking about it,” he said. “There was no debate on the business tax ratio.” And Spiers continued to slam the process when he was approached by the media. “I wouldn’t say it was a sham but the input came so late in the process that mind’s had been made up and councillors were battling budget fatigue,” he said.

The tax increase for an average assessed home is 1.99 per cent but Spiers says it will be considerably higher for many homes because of a shift in fire protection taxation and land (not just improvements) being levied for firefighting services. “We’ve come out with a budget that I can’t support,” said Spiers, adding that residents can get a better idea of their tax rate by going to the city website. “They can see how the budget and tax base we changed affects them.”

The only other opponent to the budget has been Coun. Patrick Nicol, and the rest of the politicians defend their actions. “We debated and spent a lot of time on the budget. It’s a fair system,” said Coun. Shawn Lee. Lee also denies that council ignored the comments made by residents at the input session. “I heard it all,” he said. Lee and Councillors Jack Gilroy and Mary-Jo O’Keefe voted for third reading of the city’s tax rates bylaw Monday while Spiers and Nicol raised their hands against. Mayor Wayne Lippert and Coun. Buffy Baumbrough were absent.

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Don Quixote Note: The city's tax calculator has not yet been updated. You can figure out your City Taxes the old manual way by going to Update on City Taxes for 2009

Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 28 April 2009 107.5 KISSFM:

A Vernon councillor is disappointed public input on the city's new budget, wasn't given more weight. Bob Spiers says concerns about a change in the tax base drew more than 70 people to City Hall a few weeks ago, but had no effect on a majority of council. "And we spent five minutes talking about that, of which probably four and a half minutes were myself and Councillor Nicol trying to raise some debate on those questions. That really disappointed me." The rookie councillor who attended many budget and council meetings as a citizen, has some questions about the budget process. "I wouldn't say it's a sham but maybe what happened is the public's input came so late in the process, that minds had been made up. The budget had been decided on and councillors were probably battling budget fatigue." Spiers dismisses the city's claim of a 1.99 percent overall tax hike. He says the average home will pay 5.45 percent more, before the NORD reduction, but notes every house will be different.
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Don Quixote Note: You can go to Update on City Taxes for 2009
for the rates that you can use to calculate your City Taxes for your home or business. The City's calculator hopefully will be online shortly so your complete tax bill can be calculated.

Tax Rates online for City of Vernon.

April 27 Agenda - 211Kb
Agenda Package - 12.6MB

On page 260 of the Agenda Package are the rates for the 2009 tax year.

The rates for School Taxes are not yet available but you can use above rates to compare your taxes for the City's Portion, NORD, Library and Hospital.

Update on City Taxes for 2009

I had originally posted a Cheatsheet for 2009 taxes. There I had posted mill rates for both Residential and Business taxes for the City's portion of taxes in 2009.

The Rates bylaw received 3 readings at April 14 Council Meeting and will probably received final reading at the Next Council meeting. The Mill rate Changes from my original cheetsheet are fractionally higher and were the result of using the final assessments totals for 2009 that were reduced slightly from 2008 assessments totals. (despite the Provincial freeze. ) This does NOT figure out your School taxes, Nord Taxes, Hospital taxes or Library and taxes for MFA and BC assessment or any specified areas taxes which all appeared on your 2008 tax bill. (Rates will be finalized at next council meeting)

To calculate your city taxes for residential purposes:
2.51913 times your total property assessment divided by 1000. PLUS
.0048 times your total improvements only divided by 1000.

To calculate your city taxes for business purposes:
7.6865 times your total property assessment divided by 1000. PLUS
.0146 times your total improvements only divided by 1000.

• Compare it to your 2008 tax bill for the sections "General City taxes AND Fire Protection (Add the two totals together to get 2008 taxes)
  
• The difference is how much the City Part of your taxes will go up or down for 2009.

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For example a Residential property assessed at $546,000 with land valued at $232,000 and improvements at $314,000 would have the following City Taxes:
2.51913 x 546,000/1000 = $1375.44 PLUS
.0048 x 314,000/1000 = $1.51
TOTAL City Taxes 2009 = $1376.95

In 2008 this property paid $1,356.33 in City Taxes
This is a 1.52 % Increase for THIS PROPERTY. ($20.62)
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Tax Caveat:
Every property is effected by the tax rates in a different manner and is dependent usually on the amount that its assessment is up as compared to the average assessment increase. As the Province froze assessments this year (in most cases) this should not be a major factor in this years calculation . The major difference this year is how much Land you have in comparison to the average Land component of the average property. (The average 2008 $418,676 property has 35.78% Land and 64.22% Improvements) As fire taxes will now be charged on Land also your taxes will rise or fall dependent on your deviation from the average.
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The City will be posting a tax calculator on their website so you can compare your tax increase or decrease. Until then the foregoing manual calculation method will have to suffice.

Provincial response to Varying Tax Rates

Below is a UBCM Resolution from the 2008 session that was passed and sent to the Provincial Government. (Their reply also follows.)

B18 - VARYING TAX RATES

WHEREAS the Community Charter allows for the establishment of different tax rates for raising municipal revenue from each property class;
AND WHEREAS there is no legislative provision to allow municipalities to impose separate tax rates for each of land and improvements;

AND WHEREAS the current system of property taxation provides little or no incentive for property owners to make significant improvements to their property or provide municipalities the opportunity to reduce the impact of sudden fluctuations in property values by adjusting the tax rates for either land or improvements:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province amend Section 197 of the Community Charter to allow municipalities to have the flexibility of levying separate tax rates for each of land and improvements for each property class.

RESPONSE: Ministry of Community Development

While the variable tax rate system does not currently allow municipalities to set differing property tax rates for Land and Improvements, there are other mechanisms available through the Community Charter and Regulations. Section 216 of the Community Charter, Local Service Taxes, allows costs to be recovered through taxes imposed on land, on improvements, or on both.

Municipalities may also use tools such as the revitalization tax exemption provisions found in section 226 of the Community Charter, or assessment averaging and phasing as described in the Assessment Averaging and Phasing Regulation, B.C. Reg. 370/2003, to encourage property owners to make significant improvements to their property.
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Don Quixote Note: This is rather ironic in that Vernon had the right to set the tax base for Fire Suppression etc. through the use of the two specified areas that have been in existence since 1993. Although Vernon Council has moved MOST of the fire costs out of these specified areas into general taxation and has consequently changed the base from IMPROVEMENTS ONLY to LAND AND Improvements, the two specified areas remained and taxes are still been collected at a rather low mill rate of .0048 per $1000 of assessment for residential and .0146 for business. (Based on improvements only)

Council turns to rainy day money in budget decision

JOHN MOORHOUSE Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Penticton city council adopted its 2009 budget Monday night, but nobody is breaking out the champagne. Instead, councillors see the current economic downturn as time to break into the city‘s “rainy day” funds. The budget decision, which confirms the previously announced 2.37 per cent tax increase, comes after almost four months of deliberations and consultation with the public and city staff. As part of the budget cuts, 11 city workers were laid off. Penticton residents also face a 15 per cent increase in water rates (up $55 for an average residential consumer), sewer rates will climb by 10 per cent, and electrical rates are up 4.6 per cent. City treasurer Doug Leahy warned that funding sources must be found next year for $1.8 million included in this year‘s budget from one-time sources, including $500,000 from the deferral of construction of a new Carmi electrical substation. “For the 2010 budget, these funds must be found within the budget or taxes will have to be raised accordingly. This equates to an approximate eight per cent tax increase,” Leahy stated in a report to council.

The budget includes the transfer of $640,000 from the city‘s accumulated surplus account. Leahy said the surplus is projected to drop to about $995,000 by the end of 2009 -- well below the surplus and reserve policy which calls for a minimum balance of 10 per cent of total operating expenses, roughly equal to $1.8 million. “Having a surplus set at the recommended minimum level provides the city greater flexibility to finance expenditures,” he said. “At $995,000 our flexibility is reduced.” However, Coun. John Vassilaki said the city will be able to utilize its casino and electrical surplus funds in 2010, much of which had been allocated to the South Okanagan Events Centre. “I hope that this approximate $3 million will somewhat alleviate the tax burden on Penticton in the future,” he said. Mayor Dan Ashton acknowledged it has been a difficult budget process during a challenging economic time. He said the city‘s general operating budget has increased an average of 8.2 per cent a year since 2002. However, he said non-tax revenues have dried up substantially. “How do you get that money back? Well, you either pull your horns in… or we go out to the people (for more taxes),” he said. Ashton doubted council wants to increase taxes and likened contingency funds to bank savings accounts. “There‘s a time and a need sometimes when you have to dip into it. That‘s what they‘re there for,” he said. “We‘ve been saving for rainy days and it‘s been shown that this is one of the rainiest days this city, province, country and the world has had in an awful long time.” Council voted 5-1 in favour of adopting the budget. Coun. Garry Litke was the only council member opposed.

City proceeds with taxation of property

Published: April 16, 2009 6:00 PM By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star

Attempts to reverse how fire protection taxes in Vernon are collected have failed. Coun. Bob Spiers wanted fire protection taxes applied to only buildings and other improvements, but a majority of council opted Tuesday to extend the levy to property as well. “Five councils under three different mayors have decided not to change this method of taxation. What has changed this year that makes us do so now?” he said. When Okanagan Landing was annexed into the city in 1993, two specified areas were set up for fire protection (one for the Landing and one for the rest of Vernon). Both have been based on improvements only, until current council decided recently to get rid of the specified areas and tax based on land and improvements. “We had the opportunity of keeping the two specified areas, keeping the fairest method of taxing for fire,” said Spiers.Spiers insists there isn’t a need to extend the tax to property because “traditionally land does not burn too well.” He is also concerned that many landowners will be hit hard by the change in taxation. “A pure landowner will have an increase of 26 per cent no matter where you are in the community,” he said.

But support for shifting to land and improvements came from Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. “It’s been 15 years since amalgamation of the Landing and people should be taxed the same,” she said. “The Landing should have the benefit of the entire city tax base for services they need. Also, land and improvement is how a vast majority of municipalities tax.” O’Keefe admits that some property owners will be hit hard by the change, but she says others may actually see their taxes go down, including some with large tracts of land. “If you are zoned agriculture, you are taxed agriculture and you won’t see an increase,” she said.

O’Keefe, Coun. Shawn Lee and Mayor Wayne Lippert gave three readings to 2009 tax rates bylaw, including for fire protection. Spiers and Coun. Patrick Nicol were opposed while Councillors Jack Gilroy and Buffy Baumbrough were absent.

West Kelowna financial plan approved

Wayne Moore - Apr 16, 2009 CASTANET:

West Kelowna Council passed its 2009-2013 financial plan Tuesday. Taxpayers in the municipality will be hit with a 2% tax increase in 2009 with anticipated hikes of 5% in 2010 through 2013. Future increases could change depending on need. A West Kelowna homeowner with a property valued at $450,000 can expect to pay approximately $1,237 in property taxes this year. Councillor, Rosalind Neis, who cast the lone vote against the financial plan, says she still has a problem with what she calls the 'methodology' of the budget. "All we've done is bring back money that was supposed to go into savings and we haven't done anything to cut expenses," says Neis. "I find it very hard to support the methodology behind this when our savings accounts are what is being affected and it's not our spending that is being curtailed." Despite objections from Neis, Councillor Duane Ophus, says he believes West Kelowna Council took a very prudent approach to the financial plan. "We've been over this in detail for a number of meetings over a number of months and I think we have come to a pretty satisfactory conclusion. I think we are showing a significant level of responsibility in terms of a 2% tax increase for 2009 given the economic conditions out there," says Ophus. "I have taken a close look at the expenditures that are contemplated in this budget and am quite satisfied we are doing all we can do to be as economical as we can with the tax resources of the District of West Kelowna."

Neis was also shot down in her bid to have Council's discretionary budget of $333,000 sent directly to reserves. The discretionary fund gives council funds for requests which come from the community throughout the year. Her motion to move the money to a reserve fund failed to receive a seconder. Councillor, Gord Milsom, also believed that some, but not all, of the discretionary funds be sent to reserves. "I believe we should move some of the monies into reserves, but I think it is practical to have some dollars available because you never know what comes up. We still have another seven, eight months to go this year," says Milsom. He asked that about $200,000 be moved to reserves, leaving $133,000 in the discretionary account. Council voted to keep the entire amount in the discretionary account. Later in the meeting, Council elected to spend $30,000 from that fund to purchase a new vehicle which will be used by Citizens on Patrol.

Half a million for sidewalks

Castanet Staff - Apr 13, 2009

A half million dollars will pay for a lot of sidewalk. Federal and provincial LocalMotion funding has been announced for the City of Vernon. The funding, totalling $533,000, will be used for the community’s 2009 Transportation Demand Management Initiatives project, which includes the installation of sidewalks, a trail and improvements to lake access.

The project will include:

• Sidewalks expansions near four schools and three seniors’ centres for a total of 1.2 kilometres
  
• Lakeshore Road pedestrian access and lake access improvements
  
• Another 400 metres of sidewalk and a retaining wall, including steps to access the beach
  
• 2.8 kilometres of multi-use trail from Commonage Road to Okanagan Avenue.

“Our government is investing in Vernon’s infrastructure when it is most needed,” says Okanagan-Vernon MLA Tom Christensen. “This funding supports local jobs and our efforts to make the city more pedestrian friendly.” The LocalMotion project is part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build public infrastructure in every region of B.C.