by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 16, 2015 at 12:00 PM
Vernon taxes are going up but not as much as first expected. City council wrapped up three days of 2015 budget deliberations Friday by approving a 3.43 per cent tax increase — 1.53 for general operations and 1.9 per cent for infrastructure. “Everyone is looking for the best way to operate the city and keep taxes down. It’s a tight budget,” said Mayor Akbal Mund. The budget had originally called for an overall tax hike of 3.7 per cent, but some changes in expenditures were able to bring the number down. “I like it (3.43 per cent) a whole lot better than the previous one,” said Coun. Scott Anderson, adding that it’s critical to maintain the infrastructure investment. “I would like to see the operating costs go in the opposite direction.” The actual impact of the 3.43 per cent tax increase on the average property has not been determined yet. As part of the process Friday, there was considerable debate about spending $125,000 to update the city’s website. “Is it really required?” said Coun. Bob Spiers. However, Spiers’ colleagues made a push for the project. “I’ve heard that our website is not user-friendly,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham, who says the site is used by businesses and residents. Coun. Brian Quiring also pushed to have the site upgraded so businesses have access to information. “Try to find a bylaw on the website, it’s brutally hard,” he said. During the public input session, resident Jim Bodkin called for the number of bylaw compliance officers to be reduced. “We are really heavy with bylaw officers. I’m not convinced we need that many,” he said. “We need to get in line with other communities.” However, Coun. Catherine Lord defended the city’s bylaw compliance department. “Our officers are doing a fair bit of low level work the RCMP used to do and they are cheaper (to employ) than the RCMP,” she said. The city’s 2015 budget bylaw will now go before council Feb. 10 for initial approval.
-----------
3.4% Vernon Budget Gets Support; Resident States Concerns
Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Friday, 16 January 2015 14:26
Vernon residents will likely end up paying a little less on this year's tax bill than first thought. City council has approved a preliminary budget with a tax hike of 3.43 percent, down from the earlier 3.7 percent after some spending was trimmed. It was the first budget for new councillor Scott Anderson. "I'm impressed with the presentations put together by staff. I would like to see the operational costs go in the other direction (lower)," Anderson tells Kiss FM. The tax hike includes 1.5 percent for operational increases, down from an earlier 1.8 projection, and 1.9 percent for an infrastructure fund. The figure was determined after three days of budget talks, and got unanimous support from the seven members. Councillor Bob Spiers, council's tax watchdog, was glad to see the financial plan put together. "It's never satisfying having any kind of a tax hike, but I'm not unhappy. It's over with," says Spiers. Spiers was asked if taxpayers can expect the 1.9 percent tax to upgrade roads, sidewalks and sewers, to be an annual budget feature. "It's a necessary evil because of the infrastructure deficit," says Spiers. City Finance Director Kevin Bertles told Kiss FM, he has yet to calculate what the dollar impact will be to the average homeowner, still waiting for assessment data. Mayor Akbal Mund was pleased the operational increase was pared down, which he credits to staff fine tuning the numbers. "They have done a great job. It sounds kind of funny, but I can say that taxes are going down this year from last year -- a little -- but that's only because of the 1.9% for infrastructure, which we need to do," says Mund. The budget bylaw will be before council February 10th for approval. About five people gave input to council on the new budget over the three days of special meetings. The last one was retiree Jim Bodkin who had a number of beefs. The Bella Vista area resident urged council to take a stand against the master water plan. "The idea of taking water that's was initially intended for agricultural use and spending the money we spend on it to make it drinkable is just dumb," said Bodkin. Bodkin feels the answer is to switch the area's main domestic water source to the lakes, and use Duteau Creek just for farming purposes. Bodkin also feels the city has too many bylaw officers, based on other similar sized cities. "If you do a calculation on per thousand population, we are really heavy with bylaw officers. I'm not convinced we need that many," Bodkin told council. In response, councillors Catherine Lord and Juliette Cunningham spoke in favour of the current staffing levels, who perform a number of duties. "Writing parking tickets is actually a very small part of what they do," said Cunningham. Lord says the city has been able to save money by downloading some of the RCMP's duties onto bylaw officers, which she says are cheaper.
No comments:
Post a Comment