One Final Debate On Water Rates

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre March 08, 2018 05:26 pm
The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has given final approval to this year’s water rates.Most customers will see 2.9 percent hikes, while agriculture rates will rise 3.7 percent. Director Bob Spiers felt the increase was higher than it needed to be.“We’re putting an extra million bucks into reserves. That means the water rates have been increased unduly,” Spiers told CJIB News. Director Jim Garlick said most water customers don’t agree with using one percent of the increase for the master water plan, and he feels more emphasis should be put on getting senior government grants before MWP projects proceed. “Moving forward, we’d be foolish to fund master water plan projects on rate increases. We need to have a plan in place to get more grants,” said Garlick. Part of the master plan calls for securing at least two-thirds funding from senior governments before proceeding. Supporters of the increase say building-up reserves reduces the uncertainty of water-use fluctuations from year to year. “When you look at the water rates, you never know how much water you are going to use, and there’s a balance there. You have to maintain the infrastructure, but putting money away for the future master water plan, it’s not a bad thing,” says GVAC director Akbal Mund. The rates are scheduled to go up a similar amount for the next two years.
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• This was a rate decision for the Calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• Each year for next 3 years will see a 2.9% increase for all domestic customers. Rates will change from being implemented April 1, 2018 to be effective Jan 1, 2019 and Jan 1, 2019.
• Ag Rates will increase by 3.7% for 2018 1nd 2019 and then revert to a 2.9% increase on Jan 1, 2020.
• The Water budget indicates $998,000 will be transferred into reserves in 2018.
• Water Rates Vote at GVAC was 5 to 3. Will have to be ratified at RDNO at next meeting.
• WATER RATES  CAN BE FOUND AT P.24-26

 https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/88919/180214_RPT_GVAC_Re_Rates_and_Fees_Bylaw_2768.pdf?handle=7FB106CE7F90451C8E9E7681A8312EA6

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Water Calculators for 2018 to 2020 at:

1.  2018 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nnItofUqHBkL8mKea_eEcAq-nK3LBa7EVSFqANPjmzw/edit#gid=0
2. 2019 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lx3qhNoCJv7DWBeppimTaqfQg4nsZzc3PRWUY71FFQ/edit#gid=0
3.  2020 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ryXTidYa0fglnPDnS1OWgmfdmK0uyfjfnVtZYd_Jszg/edit#gid=0

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WATER POLL AT 1075 BEACH Radio: Final Results

Do you agree with G-VAC raising water rates by an extra one percent to build-up reserves for future water needs?

• Yes (12)
• No (51)

• 
  

Kelowna cashed in on capital projects

Alistair Waters - Kelowna Capital News  Published: July 05, 2011 3:00 AM 
The local economy may still be struggling through tough times but that didn’t stop the City of Kelowna from spending big on capital projects in 2010.  With a plethora of funds available from various provincial and federal stimulus programs, Kelowna notched up its biggest year ever for capital spending last year, shelling out $200 million for everything from parks, roads and bridges to pathways and transit projects.  “There’s no doubt about it, we got a lot done last year,” said city manager Ron Mattiussi. But he warned there will not be as much capital work done by the city next year.  The reason is that Kelowna, like other municipalities across the country, took advantage of millions of dollars in one-time stimulus spending grants from the provincial and federal governments. And much of that money will not be available next year.  “In most cases, we were spending 30-cent dollars,” said Mattiussi, meaning two-thirds of the total bill for each project came from the higher levels of government—Victoria and Ottawa.  Mattiussi said Kelowna was successful in getting the grants because of its planning and that resulted in the projects undertaken last year being “shovel-ready” when the stimulus funds became available.  The city also created a new position with its recent corporate restructuring that focuses strictly on identifying and applying for grants to help fund civic projects.  City grants manager Lorna Gunn is credited for a dogged persistence in finding and successfully applying for grants on the city’s behalf. 


But while last year’s capital spending set a record, the amount of work is expected to drop next year. According to the man who co-ordinates capital spending for the city, infrastructure planing director Randy Cleveland, that does not mean Kelowna is easing up on the amount of money it is seeking in grants.  Cleveland told the Capital News on Monday the city has already applied for $7.8 million to replace the Lakeshore bridge and another $5 million for an energy reduction plan for all civic buildings, including the Kelowna airport.  Other projects like the $4 million construction of a new seniors centre at the Parkinson Recreation Centre and construction of a new building at the Kelowna landfill will proceed next year even if assistance grants cannot be found to help pay for the work.  Mattiussi says a drop in the amount of capital spending by the city next year is not expected to result in layoffs of city staff.  More than a third of city capital work is handled by outside contractors. Without the projects, the city will simply not hire the outside firms to do the work, he said.  Still, construction jobs are already leaving this area and heading to Alberta, where that province’s economy is considered to be “firing back up,” he admits.  Mattiussi said while it’s not the city’s role to create jobs, it is important it create a climate for job creation. “That is what we are trying to do here by making this a good place to live, a place people want to come to,” he said.  While admitting the economy here is still struggling, the city manager said because there are many here who do not derive their income directly from within the community, the picture can appear different than it is at times.  He said unlike Vancouver, where offshore money is still helping fuel construction demand and Calgary where the economy continues to be strong, Kelowna is feeling the pinch. But he said the city continues to invest in what he called lifestyle, offering a good level of services for one of the lower residential tax rates in the province.
City officials feel that will make Kelowna a desirable place to be and help bring back the once buoyant local construction industry.

Spallumcheen Annual report

http://www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp?NewsID=283
2010 Annual Report 

Armstrong Annual Report

http://www.cityofarmstrong.bc.ca/siteengine/activepage.asp
2010 Annual Report

RDCO board highlights

Contributed - Castanet Jun 28, 2011 

Fiscal 2010 Management Annual Report - The Regional Board has received the financial report outlining 2010 remuneration and expenses for elected officials and their alternates along with 17 staff whose remuneration was greater than $75,000.  In 2010, the remuneration and benefits of all Regional District employees totalled just over $8.9-million, up $142,000 (1.6%) from 2009 even with a previously negotiated 3.5% wage increase for unionized employees effective January 2010.  The report also outlines payments totalling over $13.7-million to 89 suppliers during 2010 for goods and services exceeding $25,000.

Item 8.1 2010 Financial Disclosure Schedules.pdf

City payroll-who makes what

Wayne Moore - Castanet  Jun 24, 2011 
The City of Kelowna spent about 2.8 per cent more on wages in 2010 than it did in the year previous. According to financial documents released Thursday, the city paid out $55.9 million in wages in 2010 compared to $54.4 million the previous year.  "The increase in remuneration is due to a combination of negotiated labour contract increases and additional staff budgeted for 2010," says Financial Account Manager Jackie Dueck in her report. The annual financial report lists all city employees with a salary of $75,000 a year and higher.  That list includes 100 management position employees, 91 firefighters and 32 CUPE employees.  The 223 employees receiving wages in excess of $75,000 is up from 209 in the year previous.  Five employees also brought in more than $150,000 in salary, however, in some cases, their wage was down from 2009. In all, the top five earned $26,000 less than the previous year.

• City Manager Ron Mattiussi - $247,000
• Corporate Sustainability GM Paul Macklem - $186,000
• Community Services GM John Vos - $184,000
• Strategic Initiatives Director David Graham - $166,000
• Community Sustainability GM Jim Paterson - $162,000

The city also paid out $334 million in payments to various vendors.  At the top of that list is the B.C. Ministry of Finance at $49 million and the Regional District at $31.1 million.
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Item 6.05 - 2010 Annual Report.pdf (1013kb) (2011-06-23)  (P.7 Council Remuneration) (P8-13 Employee Remuneration)

Spiers takes aim at report

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: June 19, 2011 1:00 AM
 A Vernon politician is accusing city hall of misleading the public.  Coun. Bob Spiers questions a two-page advertisement the city ran in The Morning Star last Sunday.  “There are errors within this report. All average figures are wrong,” he said.  As an example, he wonders why a list of salaries refers to the restorative justice co-ordinator when that individual works under contract.  The advertisement also indicates that Vernon’s staffing levels are less than other communities.  “I don’t know what the sources of those figures are,” said Spiers.  “This is like comparing apples and oranges. We don’t include parks staff (it’s a regional service) but in other communities, they do include parks. It’s totally erroneous.”  In terms of why a contractor would be placed in with regular staff, chief administrative officer Leon Gous says that’s simply the reporting process followed.  “It shows up on the line item as salary,” he said.  Gous believes the information comparing communities came from the provincial government and he points out that all municipalities operate differently.  “There are no easy comparisons because they all do something else,” he said. “We’re trying to have an illustration of what’s going to total staff expenses compared to contracting out.”  Spiers is insisting that the information from the  advertisement not be included in the city’s 2010 annual report unless the details are amended.  “If you want transparency and honesty, let’s do it,” he said.
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Don Quixote Note: The Annual Report Figures for the Municipal Comparison were corrected as stated in the Post of Wed. June 15th. (Below )

Analysis of Municipal Comparison From P.93 Vernon Annual Report2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

Firefighter wages spark taxpayer’s ire

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: June 19, 2011 1:00 AM 
Expenses at Vernon’s fire hall have one taxpayer fuming.  Chub Down was the only resident to speak during Monday’s input session on the city’s 2010 annual report, and his main focus was that 26 firefighters earned more than $75,000 a year.  “How did they get out of line?” he said of wages.  “What is the reason to give anyone earning more than $75,000 a cost-of-living adjustment.”  Down also questioned why Vernon firefighters have wage parity with their Vancouver counterparts, but that policy was defended by the city.  “Every community except Prince Rupert has lost rulings on wage parity with Vancouver,” said Leon Gous, chief administrative officer.  The city unsuccessfully went through arbitration six times in the 1990s over wage parity.  “Do you spend money to challenge it on principle or do you work on other parts of the contract in an attempt to save money?” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.
Down also questioned why firefighters are providing  a medical first responders program.  “You see the ambulance go out and five minutes later, the little red (fire) pickup goes out,” he said.  “Does anyone look at the operation and say we have too many people?”  But Lippert insists the first responders program has been valuable for residents in medical emergencies. “We have had letters from people that the fire truck was there first and they appreciated the service,” he said. Coun. Patrick Nicol says council puts a lot of thought into the budget process and the ability of taxpayers to pay, and staff requests for additional firefighters in Okanagan Landing have been denied. “We have been vigilant with expansion,” he said.

In 2010, 66 city employees earned more than $75,000, with Gous being the highest at $172,456 (gross earnings, allowances and expenses).  In terms of council, Lippert topped the list at $74,035 in remuneration and expenses.  The top councillor was Buffy Baumbrough with $26,426 in wages and expenses, while the lowest were Bob Spiers and Patrick Nicol at $20,474 each. They had no expenses.

Analysis of Municipal Comparison From P.93 Vernon Annual Report2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB (P.93)

Don Quixote Note: In the City Source Ad that appeared in Sunday's Morning Star there was a part that read "In terms of staffing levels for services, our benchmark communities within B.C. stand at an average of 41%, compared to Vernon, whose staffing levels are well below the average at 30%, something to be proud of." The corrections were made to the municipal report (P.93) and these updated figures show that Vernon's average is 30.81% and the benchmark communities average is an almost identical 30.82%.

Comparing communities to each other with no guarantee that their Salaries and benefits figures are accounted for in the same way in each community is a mugs game. Vernon's figures are for net salaries  & benefits (p.83)  and do not include salaries that are recovered from NORD for Parks, Recreation & Water Functions. (These costs may be included in the other municipalities or they may not ?)

However the Trend within the City of Vernon over a period of time which appears at the bottom of the above table is useful in detecting possible problem areas. For example Vernon's Average for the salary and benefits as  a percentage of total expenditures shows an increase from the 2006 levels of 24.49% to its 2010 level of 30.81%.

The trend for Net Salaries as a %age of taxation has risen from 63.63% in 2006 to its current level of 77.41% in 2010.

Annual Report same time as Game 6.

Despite Pleas from the City Of Vernon  the NHL has decided NOT to reschedule Game 6 of the Playoffs.

For those of you who were planning to make comments at the Annual Report meeting but have chosen to watch the Canucks rather then enjoy the Annual  Report Meeting feel free to e-mail the City Clerk with any and all comments so they can be made part of the Public record. 
Email Address City Clerk:  Patti Bridal <PBridal@vernon.ca>

Game 6  of the Stanley Cup Finals at 5pm June 13 

  2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

Annual Report same time as Game 6.

Game 6 (if necessary) of the Stanley Cup Finals at 5pm June 13 will be cancelled if a conflict occurs. (NOT)

  2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

Analysis of Annual Report Data

FTE Comparision 2006 to 2010

Salaries as %age of Taxation Analysis

Game 6 (if necessary) of the Stanley Cup Finals at 5pm June 13 will be cancelled if a conflict occurs. (NOT)

  2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

Don Quixote Note:

Analysis of Annual Report Data
3103= $3,103,000 etc.

Vernon 2010 Annual Report Online - Citizen Input Meeting June 13th at 5 PM.

  2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

 Copies of the 2010 Annual Report will be available at the meeting and are available Online. (See Ad)

City Hall Salaries Rise

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 31 May 2011 17:05

Salary costs are up again at Vernon City Hall.  The city's annual report show 17.6 million dollars was spent on staff last year, up about 800-thousand dollars from the year before.  The city had 315 full time employees, 16 more than the year before.  Mayor Wayne Lippert tells KISS FM, one reason is the city has taken on some services previously run by NORD.  "Yes the full time equivalency has gone up, but sources of revenue that we're getting back have definately gone up as well to offset positions like that."  Councillor Bob Spiers is concerned net salaries have risen from 60 percent of tax revenue in 2005, to 77 percent, which he calls unsustainable.  "The city must look to measures to reduce expenses and/or increase revenues from other sources."  66 city workers make 75-thousand dollars or more, including 13 over 100-thousand.  Administrator Leon Gous is the highest paid at $153,733 in earnings, plus $14,223 in expenses.

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  2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB  

Vernon 2010 Annual Report Online

 2010 Annual Report - 4.40 MB

 2009 report for Political Salaries and Employee Remuneration < $75,000

http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/vernon-staff-and-political-remuneration.html 

NORD Financial Report on June 1's Agenda

Board of Directors

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 4:00 pm

Download PDF (1.6MB)

Last Years Salary Schedules can be found at http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/nord-staff-and-political-remuneration.html

Coldstream's Annual Report Online

2010 Annual Financial Report - 3MB PDF (Stat section starts on P. 53)
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The Annual Report is a requirement of all Municipalities and must be presented to the Public at a Public Meeting prior to June 30th of Each year. 

• 2009 Annual Financial Report - 2.81MB PDF
• 2008 Annual Financial Report - 7.29MB PDF
• 2007 Annual Financial Report - 2.45MB PDF
• 2006 Annual Financial Report - 800Kb PDF

Coldstream politician defends expenses

2010 Coldstream report

2009 Coldstream Report

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star  Published: April 15, 2011 1:00 AM

Next to the mayor, Coldstream Coun. Maria Besso pocketed  the most pay in 2010.  Mayor Jim Garlick earned a total of $26,563 ($24,461 remuneration and $2,102 in expenses), while Besso followed close behind earning $19,355 ($15,996 remuneration and $3,359 in expenses).  Compare that to the lowest-paid politician, Coun. Pat Cochrane, who made $8,885 (he had no expenses). Besso says she attends more meetings and conferences than other politicians. “I’m probably the one who puts in for the most meeting pays,” said Besso, who frequents North Okanagan Regional District and Greater Vernon Advisory Committee meetings even though she is not on those boards.  “I go and watch because that way I know what’s going on.”  Politicians can claim $139 for each meeting attended which they are not already paid for.  Besso also had expenses from driving to conferences in Whistler and Sun Peaks.  The top staff earner for 2010 was Michael Stamhuis, chief administrative officer, with $131,137 ($124,914 remuneration and $6,223 in expenses).
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Don Quixote Note:Complete List of Council Remuneration, Staff Remuneration, Goods and Services <$25,000 and permissive tax exemptions can be found at http://coldstream.civicweb.net/Documents/DocumentList.aspx?ID=1617   (P.25-29)