West Kelowna council held a special meeting on Tuesday, January 16th to hold its detailed review of the Draft 2018-2026 Financial Plan which includes a 2.58% tax increase. The Draft Budget presented a 3% tax increase but Council directed staff to use surplus funds to reduce the municipal tax increase.
The City experienced an estimated 1.6% in growth in 2017 (final numbers provided by BC Assessment in March) which results in $471,570 additional revenue. A 2.58% tax increase adds $759,054 to the budget. The City’s total tax requisition for 2018 is estimated to be $30.7 million.
RCMP Costs
Council discussed the request from West Kelowna RCMP for eight additional officers. It was recommended that Council not consider adding RCMP officers at this time. Council has asked for a provincial review of policing in West Kelowna as there are concerns that West Kelowna is paying a disproportionate amount of policing costs, with provincial policing funding not keeping pace as the City’s policing contract requires. Currently the City funds 26 officers and the Province funds 20 positions for the detachment that polices the following areas:
· West Kelowna
· Westbank First Nation
· Central Okanagan West Electoral Area
· Highway 97C / Okanagan Connector to Sunset Main
· Okanagan Lake from Peachland to Lake Okanagan Resort
· Peachland
· Rural areas on the east side of Okanagan Lake including:
o Big White
o Ellison
o Joe Rich
Council is concerned that, as the detachment is integrated, West Kelowna taxpayers may be paying for a portion of policing services in areas outside its boundaries and would like to see the provincial review of policing services before it considers adding more members.
New Staff Approved
Council approved the addition of the following new municipal staff in the draft 2018 budget:
· .4 Help Desk Assistant
· .5 Bylaw/Business Licence Clerk
· 1 Bylaw Officer
· 1 Safety Advisor
· .5 Building Clerk
· .5 Building Inspector
· 1 Development Engineering Technician
· 1 Co-Op Student for Roads
· 1 Water Utility Instrumentation Tech
· 1 Water Utility BC One Call/Utilities Clerk
· 1 Co-Op Student for Water Utility
· 2 Co-Op Students Water Ambassadors
Capital Projects
Council approved the Ten Year Capital Plan with the following major projects in the draft 2018 budget:
· Road Rehabilitation - $1 million
· Flood remediation work - $2.4 million
· Gellatly Powers Creek Bridge Design - $150,000
· Pedestrian improvements - $1.2 million (Council doubled this budget from $600,000)
· Miscellaneous Park Acquisitions - $4.2 million
· 2 Fire Trucks - $1.3 million
· Other Fire Department Equipment - $327,200
· Information Technology equipment - $440,447
· Public Work Yard design - $250,000
· Municipal Hall AHU replacement - $275,000
· Misc. Equipment and Vehicles - $299,800
· Misc. Facility Projects - $493,000
Works to be undertaken this year that were previously approved by Council are:
· Boucherie Road Phase 2 Upgrade, Stuart to Ogden - $4.6 million
· Klein Road Drainage - $250,000
Grants In Aid
Council approved $114,950 in Cash Grants in Aid and $298,004 in Non-Cash Grants in Aid in the Draft 2018 Budget. In 2017, Council approved $90,950 in Cash Grants in Aid and $289,630 in Non-Cash Grants in Aid.
Talk Budget with Council Open House
Council will host a public open house to present the Draft 2018-2027 Financial Plan to residents. The event will be held Wednesday, January 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Westbank Library in the Westridge Mall, 31-2484 Main Street, West Kelowna.