2015 RDNO TAX REQUISITION

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2015 RDNO TAX REQUISITION  by Jurisdiction and Function

This data Illustrates the Tax requisition for the various jurisdictions that make up the RDNO. For instance Vernon has a total Req.  of $5,789,000 and this is the total from all the different functions Vernon participates in.   (For example Okanagan Basin Water Board $400,627 etc. 61.75%) Vernon's percentage of the total for each function is shown in the left hand column while total of each function is shown in the far right column.

RDNO saves on employee payroll

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jun 17, 2015 at 1:00 AM
The amount of payroll has shrunk at the Regional District of North Okanagan. There were 30 employees paid more than $75,000 in 2014. That is down from 34 in 2013. Total payroll for RDNO was $5.82 million in 2014, down from $6.2 million the year before. There was also $433,996 in expenses in 2014. “It’s way down and we set out to do that when we were organizing staff and the organization,” said Rick Fairbairn, chairperson. The top paid employee was chief administrative officer David Sewell with a salary of $146,469 and expenses of $5,780. Others on the list include Leah Mellot, electoral area services general manager, with a wage of $140,039 and expenses of $9,966, and Dale McTaggart, engineering general manager, with remuneration of $135,714 and expenses of $1,389. RDNO’s 2014 annual report also indicates that $299,153 was paid out to directors, alternate directors and committee members, while there was $29,887 in expenses. Rural Lumby’s Fairbairn, who was chairperson last year, had a salary of $40,138 and expenses of $6,494. Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director, earned $25,569. “It’s somewhat around minimum wage when you add up the hours,” said Macnabb, adding that elected duties take away from his job as an engineer. However, Macnabb insists people don’t get into politics for the money. “The board reps are pretty committed and do an awful lot of work.” Macnabb had $5,492 in expenses, including attendance at provincial and regional conferences. “There were also trips to Kelowna for Okanagan Regional Library. There’s a lot of travel involved.” Bob Fleming, BX-Swan Lake director, had remuneration of $25,420 and expenses of $4,439 while retired Cherryville director Eugene Foisy had a salary of $20,993 and $2,271 in expenses. Jackie Pearase, who was not re-elected as rural Enderby director, had a salary of $21,577 and expenses of $7,031 in 2014. “The majority of that (expenses) was related to mileage. It’s a long drive from Area F to the regional district office and once a month I was to Kamloops (for Fraser Basin Council),” she said. For those electoral area directors elected in November, Cherryville’s Hank Cameron had remuneration of $1,350 and expenses of $230, and there was a salary of $1,350 and expenses of $205 for rural Enderby’s Herman Halvorson. Remuneration and expenses were also paid out to directors appointed from the six municipalities. The full annual report can be found at www.rdno.ca/agendas/150617_AGN_BoD_FULL.pdf.
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Don Quixote Note: On a year over year basis Political Remuneration was $266,153.80 in 2014 as compared to 279,785.00 in 2013. ( decrease of $13.631.20).

Employee Remuneration was $5,823,665.13 in 2014 as compared to 6,150,518.49 in 2013.
( decrease of $326,853.36). (The Total $ amount of the 3 Severance Agreements nor the individual allocations are included in the Employee Remuneration Schedule.)

Statement of Severance Agreements
There were three severance agreements made between the Regional District of North Okanagan and its non-unionized employees during the year ended December 31 , 2014. These agreements ranged from 2 to 9 months of equivalent compensation based on their salaries at the time of the agreements.

Regional district finalizes financial plan

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 20, 2015 at 1:00 AM

The $15.6 Million 2015 Tax Requisition.
Vernon Participates in these functions at different levels.
Vernon's $ Share by function will be presented by April 15.
Water Function not part of list as it isn't part of Taxation (yet?)

The Regional District of North Okanagan’s latest financial plan is a done deal. On Wednesday, the board adopted the 2015 budget, which has gone from $75.1 million last year to $65.2 million. “We’ve lived up to our initial goal which was to reduce spending,” said chairperson Rick Fairbairn. The operating budget is $40.9 million, down from $41.6 million, while the capital budget has gone from $33.5 to $24.3 million. The decrease in spending is largely a result of restructuring Greater Vernon’s parks and recreation function but a number of other services will either see a decrease or no increase in expenditures. A change in the 911 provider also reduced overall expenses. The total tax requisition for 2015 is $15.6 million, down from $17.6 million in 2014. Each community is requisitioned taxes based on services it receives from RDNO, and that can even vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. Lone opposition to the budget came from director Bob Spiers, who was concerned about Greater Vernon water rates and the amount of reserves in the Greater Vernon culture service. “The reserves in 010 (general government service) are ridiculously high,” he said.
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Don Quixote Note: My opposition was based on the 2% water Rates increase, not delaying the design of  the 2 water projects ($841,000) that were part of the 6 proposals in the Water Referendum and the building up of more reserves ($368,000) in this function. I had similar reserve concerns about stockpiling more reserves in the Performing Arts Function ($224,430 additional) and the General Govt. Function where the reserve has grown to in excess of $1.6 million. All these concerns are to be addressed at a proposed reserve workshop and/or the master water plan discussions in 2015.

Regional district financial plan shrinks

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 13, 2015 at 1:00 AM— updated Mar 13, 2015 at 6:03 AM
Fewer tax dollars are being pumped into Regional District of North Okanagan coffers. Directors met Wednesday to review the proposed 2015 budget, which sits at $62.3 million compared to $75.1 million last year. “The total tax requisition for 2015 is $15.6 million, down from $17.6 million in 2014,” said Stephen Banmen, chief financial officer. The proposed operating budget is $40.8 million, down from $41.6 million, while the capital budget has gone from $33.5 to $21.4 million. Much of the decrease is a result of restructuring Greater Vernon’s parks and recreation function but a number of other services will either see a decrease or no increase in their tax requisition. A change in the 911 provider also reduced overall expenses. “It’s a responsible budget,” said Rick Fairbairn, chairperson, adding that the board’s goal has been to control spending. “We didn’t replace a lot of people who retired.” Each community is requisitioned taxes based on services it receives from RDNO, and that varies. Among the functions that will cost more are the BX-Swan Lake, Lumby and Silver Star fire departments. Taxes for each will climb 2.5 per cent. “Training is driving the cost increases,” said Banmen. The Lumby community services function, which is supported by Lumby, rural Lumby and Cherryville residents, will see the requisition jump 260 per cent or $11,484. That is a result of the service mandate expanding to include the local health care society. Coldstream, Vernon and Armstrong’s grant to the Okanagan Film Commission will climb from $24,766 to $33,781, or 36.4 per cent. It’s anticipated RDNO’s 2015 budget will be adopted March 18.
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EDITORIAL: RDNO budget a positive sign
by Editorial - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 13, 2015 at 1:00 AM
The Regional District of North Okanagan appears to be taking a distinct financial approach. Unlike local municipalities, the regional district is moving ahead with a 2015 budget worth $62.3 million, down from $75.1 million last year. The total tax bill is dropping from $17.6 to $15.6 million. In most cases, budgets for individual functions aren’t rising much more than the cost of living. “It’s a responsible budget,” said chairperson Rick Fairbairn, adding that the goal has been to control spending. “We didn’t replace a lot of people (staff) who retired.” And for those functions that will experience higher spending, the situation is largely out of the hands of RDNO. Provincial rules have mandated expanded training for firefighters and B.C. Hydro fees mean it costs more to operate street lights. But it should be pointed out that while RDNO’s tax burden has eased, those taxes haven’t disappeared. Part of the reason the district’s budget is reduced from previous years is because of restructuring Greater Vernon’s parks and recreation service. Many of those activities are now directly provided by Coldstream and Vernon, which means those jurisdictions are now taxing their constituents for the service, not RDNO. And for what’s left of Greater Vernon’s recreation function, there is a $790,000 overrun for the sports track under construction. That money is coming from a mix of reserves and taxation, as well as, hopefully, grants and sponsors. While some of the budget’s fine details may still raise questions, it is certainly worth acknowledging the reduced spending and taxation. Hopefully, that is a trend regional district politicians and administrators can continue in the years to come.
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2015 RDNO Budget Workshop  See the Individual Function Requisitions here.

Film Commission Gets Funding Boost

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 05 March 2015 16:32
The Okanagan Film Commission will be getting a bit of a raise from the regional district. "The board decided they would increase their funding to 33-thousand dollars for 2015. They had asked for $35,000," says Regional District of North Okanagan board chair Rick Fairbairn.  Fairbairn says RDNO's support is up from the $24,000 provided last year, but the board is looking for more participation from other members. At this point, just Vernon, Coldstream and Armstrong contribute, even though Enderby and Lumby have seen the most film activity recently. Enderby is considering opting in with an $1,100 share, but Lumby director Kevin Acton says it's too late for it's $830 portion as their budget is already set. The commission brought in 20 films in 2014 with an economic spin-off of 17.5 million dollars while working from a 180 thousand dollar budget. One of them was 'Go With Me' starring Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins and Ray Liotta which filmed in Enderby, Lumby, Armstrong and Vernon.