City Outlines Budget Highlights

The City of Vernon has released more details about its 2018 budget.

Council has given support for a 5.04% tax hike, but with the city taking over responsibility for several sub regional parks from the regional district, that will decrease the RDNO requisition.

“While the 5.04% includes the new cost of operating sub-regional parks, City taxpayers will see a decrease in the RDNO requisition equivalent to approximately 1% for a net combined property tax increase of 3.98%,” says a City release.

Major capital projects approved include reconstruction of portions of 30th Street and 35th Avenue and 32nd Avenue, airport improvements, building infrastructure projects, storm and sanitary rehabilitation and numerous road maintenance projects.

Council also committed to spending $1.9 million from reserves on two items: a new 1.4 million dollar ladder truck for Fire Services and improvements to the Camp Hurlburt park site worth a half million dollars.

Public access to Okanagan Lake will be improved through the development of four lake access points and the development of a new lakeshore park.