City of Vernon gets behind starling control program

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 03, 2013 1:00 AM
Vernon’s support for starling control has taken flight.  Council has agreed to provide $13,000 in 2013 for the valley-wide initiative that attempts to control the invasive bird species. “It’s devastating,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe of the damage starlings causes to fruit crops as well  as at cattle feed lots. However, the city wants the Regional District of North Okanagan to review how the cost of the program is allocated to member jurisdictions. Currently, Vernon pays the most because it has the largest population within RDNO. “The starling program is affecting farmers and we have very little farming,” said Coun. Catherine Lord. Starlings are also known to be an urban pest, nesting on building ledges and in warehouses, dryer vents and birdhouses.
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Don Quixote Note: Vernon Council agreed to pay $13,257  of the $25,000 Starling Control program for 2013. This represents 53.03% of the total converted Land & Improvements assessment of the regional partners who were in the program when it ended on Dec. 31, 2012. This money for this year will come from the 2012 general surplus. (Total in this surplus still not known but should be available within the month ??) This program will have to be renewed by RDNO for 2014 and beyond  by a new establishment bylaw (as the existing bylaw had a sunset clause ending in 2012) and all Partners that want to remain in the program will decide on the method of allocating the costs.

The present method of Land & Improvements is inappropriate. Even the S.I.R. program taxes the areas on the basis of Land only.  If we based this program on Farm Acreage only, Vernon's share would be about $1,652 . If Vernon's share was based on population (as suggested in article) Vernon share would be 38,150/81,237= 46.96% or  $11,740.