Most taxpayers have now received their property tax bill for the year along with a tax information sheet attempting to mislead the taxpayer with “improving liveability” and “infrastructure sustainability,” and of course no reference to the $200 increase in the Homeowner Grant by the provincial government to help lower the bottom line.
On March 14 several concerned citizens attended the city council meeting and gave input on the 2011 Financial Plan.
Many questions were put to the council regarding such matters as annual shortfall in infrastructure spending of $2.5 million, spending on non-essential infrastructure projects, excessive salaries and excessive administrative staff hiring.
Other concerns were lack of infrastructure in the Okanagan Landing while non-essential projects were being pursued in the city, the fact that our taxes are the second highest in the Okanagan Valley and that the city has failed to address the systemic problems it has created and the need for a value for money audit.
This council, that claims it is open and transparent, gave no explanations for its conduct, many questions remain unanswered, and many answers from the treasurer were not worth the paper they were written on.
The taxpayers are being poorly served by this council and this administration, and the city is in a financial mess.
Financial management and planning at the city is just part of the problem. The relationship with the regional district and Greater Vernon is at an all time low and the sharing of costs (O’Keefe Ranch, Economic Development, Tourism, and Fire Dispatch) is virtually non-existent to the detriment of the Vernon taxpayer.
This council is also answerable to us for the increases that have taken place via the Regional District 2010 – garbage collection cost up 25 per cent, recycling up 50.5 per cent, 2011 water up 23 per cent.
Barry Beardsell, Vernon
