Vernon City Council discussing the proposed 2023 financial plan at a special meeting Dec. 5. (Liam Verster/Vernon Matters Staff)

By Liam Verster

What's in-what's not

Vernon council supports 4.79 per cent tax increase for 2023

Dec 6, 2022 | 12:37 PM

After a day of discussions and hearing from staff, Vernon city council has settled on its proposed tax increase for 2023.

Council held a special meeting to review the 2023 financial plan Monday, Dec. 5, which ended with the elected reps endorsing a 4.79 per cent hike.

Council initially supported an increase of 4.96 per cent, which had a base tax rate of 1.47 per cent for operations, plus 1.9 per cent for the 10th and final year of an infrastructure levy.

This rate of 3.37 per cent then saw a reduction of 0.62 per cent due to non-market change, before several service level increases were added.

• Marshall Field Washroom Extension of Operation – $35,000 to add 0.07 per cent to the rate
• Talent Acquisitions and Retention Position for Human Resources – $87,500 to add 0.18 per cent to the rate
• Hiring an Additional Deputy Fire Chief – $171,321 to add 0.35 per cent to the rate
• Hiring an Additional Bylaw Compliance Officer – $92,741 to add 0.19 per cent to the rate
• Hiring an Additional Two RCMP Members – $414,000 to add 0.85 per cent to the rate
• Service Level Increases due to Development – $105,567 to add 0.22 per cent to the rate
• Library Sunday Opening Costs – $18,728 to add 0.04 per cent to the rate
• Snow Plowing Enhancements to Priority Lanes – $15,000 to add 0.03 per cent to the rate
• Snow Plowing Sidewalks – Weekend and Holiday Response – $20,000 to add 0.04 per cent to the rate
• Snow Removal Enhancements to Bus Stops – $160,000 to add 0.33 per cent to the rate

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These additions set the rate at 5.05 per cent, and then administration stated that adding $50,000 to the Financial Service’s investment income budget would bring the total increase down to 4.96 per cent.

Coun. Kari Gares moved the amended motion to include that change, which passed unanimously.

Gares then put forward a motion to reconsider the hiring of a new deputy fire chief, which passed with Coun. Akbal Mund being the sole vote against.

Gares stated, though she appreciates the need for additional personnel at Vernon Fire Rescue Services, she wanted to keep the budget as low as possible and that there wasn’t a lot that could be cut.

“Every single one of these needs I think is critical, there’s always a rationale for them, but we just don’t have the luxury of having that additional taxpayer-funded options when we know we are running into potentially tight markets for next year. That is really where my consideration is coming from,” Gares said during the meeting.

“I understand the capacity, but we also know that we’re going to be putting forward potentially two to four [new] firefighters for next year, we still have the [deferred ] apparatus reserve that we have to deal with for next year. Those are significant costs, and we can talk about putting forward a motion about staggering them because I do think that’s a great idea, but I’m also very much aware that we need firefighters. I just think right now is not the time to add an additional deputy fire chief, simply from a taxation perspective.”

Following further discussions where councillors expressed the need for enhanced member organization and planning to be prepared for emergencies such as wildfires, a compromise was struck where the deputy fire chief could be hired to begin their duties in the summer, effectively cutting the hiring cost in half as far as the 2023 budget.

Gares then withdrew her original motion and put forward a new one to hire the deputy chief with a starting date of July 1, 2023.

That motion was carried unanimously.

The change brought the proposed property tax hike down to 4.79 per cent.

Earlier in the meeting, council had also deferred the expenditure of $80,000 to enhance snow plowing of cul-de-sacs, which would have increased the tax rate by 0.16 per cent, and providing O’Keefe Ranch with $100,000 in funding, resulting in another 0.21 per cent tax increase.

It was noted O’Keefe could approach council to seek city grants or funding options in the new year.

Administration added that, pending further discussions with B.C. Assessment, there may be some adjustments made to the property tax rates before they are sent to residents in June.

Council voted unanimously in favour of endorsing the financial plan and the property tax increase.

“The 2023 budget maintains core municipal services and reaffirms council’s commitment to community safety,” Mayor Victor Cumming said. “Prior to the budget planning process, council directed Administration to bring forward a budget with an operating increase that was 3 per cent or less. Thanks to the diligent and careful work of staff, the increase for the proposed operating budget was less than half that amount.”

A further vote supporting the plan and tax will be held at the next regular meeting Dec. 12.

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The following is a City of Vernon news release providing more information on the 2023 budget:

Vernon Council endorses 2023 budget with continued focus on community safety

Dec. 6, 2022

Vernon City Council has debated, amended and endorsed the 2023 budget presented within the 2023 – 2027 Financial Plan, with a total budget increase of 4.79%, which includes a:

• 1.47% increase for annual operating expenses;
• 1.90% increase for the final installment of the 10-year infrastructure levy program; and
• 1.42% increase to improve services to the public.

“The 2023 budget maintains core municipal services and reaffirms Council’s commitment to community safety,” said Mayor Victor Cumming. “Prior to the budget planning process, Council directed Administration to bring forward a budget with an operating increase that was 3% or less. Thanks to the diligent and careful work of staff, the increase for the proposed operating budget was less than half that amount.

“While deliberating the budget, Council carefully reviewed proposed improvements to a number of core public services and thoughtfully considered the balance between affordability and community needs. In the end, Council endorsed a budget that prioritizes safety, improves snow clearing, maintains services our citizens rely on every day, and enables the City’s ability to practically and sustainably support an ever-growing community.”

Police, Fire Services and Bylaw Compliance

The 2023 budget includes the addition of two new RCMP officers, a Deputy Fire Chief position for Vernon Fire Rescue Services, and a new Bylaw Compliance Officer.

“These positions will bolster our local emergency response teams and are a strong benefit for our community,” said Mayor Cumming. “In the last few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in call volumes with requests for emergency assistance. Our population has also grown steadily in the last five years, as shown in the latest Statistics Canada Census.

“Therefore, it was time for us to increase staff resources for our emergency response agencies so they can continue providing these essential services without compromising the well-being of those on the front line.”

Snow clearing enhancements

Another area of focus in the 2023 budget was on snow clearing services across the community. Council endorsed three operational service level adjustments to enhance snow clearing at bus stops and in priority lanes throughout the winter season, and to include weekend and holiday clearing of sidewalks that are maintained by the City. These enhancements to service will occur after final adoption of the 2023 – 2027 Financial Plan Bylaw, which is expected to happen on January 23, 2023.

“For several years, Council has heard requests from the public to increase snow clearing efforts in these specific areas,” said Mayor Cumming. “These changes to the budget come directly from those requests.

“Council has also given staff the financial resources they may need to have snow removed from key areas of the City – such as the downtown core, 27^th Street, and 32^nd Street (Highway 97) – on a more frequent basis, if we have a significant snowfall season like we did in 2021. However, if those funds are needed for snow removal, they will come from a Snow Removal Reserve so there will be no additional impact to taxation.”

1.9% infrastructure levy and Capital program

In 2013, Council introduced a cumulative 1.9% infrastructure levy as a 10-year program to provide the necessary funds to strategically repair or replace aging infrastructure and establish a stronger foundation for our community. This program helps fund improvements to municipal roads, stormwater and wastewater management systems, public buildings, and parks.

In 2021, the infrastructure levy was paused for one year, in response to impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was resumed in 2022 and will be continued for its 10^th and final year in 2023.

Vernon’s 2023 Capital program is consistent with the 2023 rolling 5-Year Infrastructure Plan and will include more than $21.5 million in projects. Some of the larger projects are:

• Kin Race Track Athletic Park Phase 1 – $3.0M
• Polson Park Vernon Creek Naturalization Phase 1 – $1.95M
• Civic Memorial Park Phase 3 – $1.36M
• Infrastructure replacement on 32^nd Ave from Pleasant Valley Road to 20^th St – $1.72M
• Infrastructure replacement on 32^nd Ave and 38^th St near Alexis Park Drive and 30^th Ave – $2.78M
• The extension of sanitary sewer collector pipe to a portion of the remaining non-serviced areas in the Okanagan Landing area using horizontal directional drilling – $1.11M

Active Living Centre

Following the referendum approval by Vernon residents, the City will borrow the funds necessary to develop the Active Living Centre.

As part of the 2023 budget, the City will be able to undertake the final design process, which is expected to cost up to $12 million (approximately 10% of the project budget). However, as indicated during the referendum information campaign, there is no impact to taxation in 2023 for the Active Living Centre project.

The funds that will be needed for the detailed design work are expected to be borrowed from the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) in the Fall of 2023. More information will be provided to the community on progress of the Active Living Centre project as details become available, and there will be opportunity for further community input next year, to help determine design elements such as aquatic play features.

For more information on the 2023 – 2027 Financial Plan and the 2023 budget, visit the City’s website at www.vernon.ca/budgetprocess.