Vernon City Council discussing the proposed 2025-2029 Financial Plan Monday, Dec. 2 (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Budget Increases, Financial Commitments

Vernon Council endorses budget with an 11 per cent increase

Dec 3, 2024 | 10:43 AM

After discussing, debating and amending the proposed budget at a special meeting Monday, Dec. 2, Vernon City Council endorsed the proposed 2025-2029 Financial Plan, which had a projected budget increase of 11.06 per cent.

The budget increase was fuelled by a few main drivers, including the Active Living Centre (ALC), which called for a 3.5 per cent increase; a 2.31 per cent increase to RCMP operations; and a 5.25 per cent increase to support the City’s operating, infrastructure and service level commitments.

“The 2025 budget was shaped by the significant financial commitments for the Active Living Centre and RCMP staffing, which set the foundation for our planning. At the same time, managing staffing levels across the city to meet the demands of our growing community added another layer of complexity,” Mayor Victor Cumming said.

“This budget required careful consideration to balance the community’s needs with service level sustainability.”

The city noted there were 27 capital projects planned for 2025, at a total cost of $28.6-million.

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Some key projects planned for the next year include Phase 2 of the Vernon Creek Naturalization at Polson Park ($5.16-million), construction of a new roundabout at Phoenix Drive and Silverstar Road ($1.9-million), sanitary sewer replacement from Cummins Lift Station to Okanagan Landing Road ($1.2-million), construction of a new airport taxiway apron ($1.4-million), and rock slope stabilization along Crosby Road and Apex Drive ($540,000).

“The community is growing, and so are the demands on the services we provide as a municipality,” Cumming said.

“Creating a fair and balanced budget in the face of rising costs and pre-existing financial commitments is a challenge.”