Vernon City Hall (Vernon Matters photo)

By Pete McIntyre

City update

Vernon’s tax hike translates to extra $102 for average home

Dec 6, 2023 | 4:55 PM

The City of Vernon has released more details about its 2024 budget that will carry a tax increase 5.49 per cent.

Based on this year’s average assessed value of residential properties in the city ($690,412), homeowners can expect to pay an extra $102 for the year, or $8.50 per month.

The details of the financial plan were hammered-out at a special meeting by city council on Monday, Dec. 4.

“The 2024 budget emphasizes council’s dedication to community well-being, centreing on maintaining core municipal services to support the evolving needs of a growing populace while staying aligned with Council’s 2023-2026 strategic plan,” Mayor Victor Cumming said.

“While deliberating the budget, council carefully and thoughtfully considered the balance between affordability and community needs. This budget allocates resources crucial to sustain the essential services and daily operations our citizens rely upon.”

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Spending in the 2024 budget includes two new RCMP officers, two support members to the RCMP, four new firefighter positions, and a full-time FireSmart coordinator.

Municipal operations will also get a boost through funding for key positions that will help provide existing services, including recreation. (Tax funding for the Active Living Centre ALC will begin in 2025.)

“The community is growing and so are the demands on the services we offer as a municipality,” Cumming added. “Council’s strategic plan makes clear that community safety and proactive planning are key areas of focus. The addition of these positions will ensure our community is appropriately prepared and positioned to meet the needs of our community.”

The city’s capital program includes 23 projects next year, totaling $29 million, for which $7.2 million will come from taxes.

Some of the larger projects are:

• Infrastructure improvements at Pleasant Valley Road and 39th Avenue intersection – $4.83 million
• Infrastructure replacement on 32nd Avenue from 18th Street to 20th Street – $2.53 million
• Infrastructure replacement at the 43rd Street Vernon Creek crossing – $4.55 million
• New mountain bike facilities at Becker Park – $962,000
• The extension of sanitary sewer collector pipe to a portion of non-serviced areas in the Okanagan Landing area, utilizing horizontal directional drilling – $1.2 million

Cumming said the cost of living is rising for everyone and the city feels the pressures of inflation that as well.

“However, the decisions we made to support increased service levels and to fund critical infrastructure projects are prudent ones. This budget, along with our 2023–2026 strategic plan, makes clear that we are preparing for what we expect will be a steady increase in growth over the coming years,” the second term mayor said.

For more information on the 2024–2028 financial plan and the 2024 budget, visit the city’s website at www.vernon.ca/budgetprocess.