The Kelowna RCMP got more than it bargained for going into last week香蕉视频直播檚 city budget deliberations.
Residents are now facing a 4.15 per cent tax increase next year largely due to council香蕉视频直播檚 approval of 11 new RCMP officers 香蕉视频直播� four more than the detachment had requested.
The 2020 provisional budget initially called for a 3.9 per cent tax increase, but the additional $360,000 approved by council to add the extra four Mounties boosted the tax increase to 4.15 per cent.
That increase amounts to $86 a year, or $7.17 per month, for an average single-detached home property tax bill in Kelowna.
City taxes are only one portion of a property tax bill, which also includes other amounts the city collects on behalf of the province, the RDCO, school and library levies.
According to the city香蕉视频直播檚 finance director Genelle Davidson, adding the additional police officers will also inflate the 2021 and 2022 tax increases by 0.25 per cent.
The city香蕉视频直播檚 projections for both of those budgets predicts tax hikes over five per cent.
Kelowna RCMP Supt. Brent Mundle said six of the 11 new officers would be used as community support officers so police can spend more time on foot in areas that need it.
Four officers will also be allotted for investigative support roles and one will be a school support officer.
The request by RCMP for the additional officers was tabled by Coun. Maxine DeHart.
香蕉视频直播淎ll we hear from our residents is, 香蕉视频直播楽afety, safety, safety,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 she said.
香蕉视频直播淚 think we should take the plunge香蕉视频直播e have to be brave to do these things.香蕉视频直播�
Mayor Colin Basran said this is not council trying to solve the city香蕉视频直播檚 social issues with more arrests.
香蕉视频直播淐ertainly protective service and public safety is something we香蕉视频直播檝e heard loud and clear as something that has to be addressed,香蕉视频直播� he said.
香蕉视频直播淲e are also cognizant of the fact that hiring more officers does not fix our social issues.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to continue to advance Journey Home, get people housed and the supports they need, but enforcement is also an important part of a safe community overall.香蕉视频直播�
Couns. Loyal Wooldridge, Gail Given and Luke Stack voted against the proposal.
Fourteen safety-related civilian support positions were also added, bringing city香蕉视频直播檚 total investment in community safety up to $1.4 million.
香蕉视频直播淲e are committed to strong financial management and being accountable to public funds,香蕉视频直播� said George King, the city香蕉视频直播檚 financial planning manager.
香蕉视频直播淐ouncil has approved the provisional budget which prioritizes keeping taxation demand as low as possible while ensuring we keep pace with the cost increases required to maintain existing levels of service and support our rapidly growing community.
香蕉视频直播淢ost budget requests, 69 per cent, are funded from sources other than taxation such as fees, reserves and grants.香蕉视频直播�
According to the city, taxation generates $5.92 million and accounts for 31 per cent of the needed revenue for 2020.
Going forward, the infrastructure levy will generate $5.6 million annually to help bridge the infrastructure deficit identified in the 10-Year Capital Plan.
香蕉视频直播淥ur budget process supports delivering results outlined in council香蕉视频直播檚 priorities, as well as advancing the community香蕉视频直播檚 Imagine Kelowna vision,香蕉视频直播� said King.
香蕉视频直播淢aking sure the public feels safe, creating great public spaces, embracing diverse transportation options, supporting innovation and economic resiliency, and protecting our environment by taking action in the face of climate change are all reflected within the 2020 budget.香蕉视频直播�
Notable projects confirmed in the budget include the much-anticipated construction of Pandosy Waterfront Park, a potential partnership between the city and school district to replace Parkinson Recreation Centre and $230,000 allotted for planning a multi-year expansion of the Capital News Centre.
The city has until May to finalize the 2020 budget.
READ MORE: City of Kelowna 2020 budget deliberations
READ MORE: Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 2040 community plan is nearing completion
michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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