A 35% tax increase in Vernon over four years is helping to pay for lots of nice things

As always, spending and taxes are likely to be hot-button issues in Vernon during the current election campaign, and as Vernon residents have seen a 35% increase in their property tax since 2022, it’s not hard to see why.

The City’s budget has grown by 12% over the past four years, increasing to $122-million in 2025 from $109 million in 2022. It’s also considerably higher than it was two terms ago in 2018, when it sat at $94 million.

Crude math shows that it costs $13 million more to run city hall than it did when the current mayor and council were voted in and $28 million more than it did eight years ago, not accounting for inflation.

City of Vernon budget 2018 to 2025

The last four years have seen some eye-catching projects break ground, most notably the $136-million Active Living Centre, which voters approved by referendum in 2022. Work is also underway on the $46-million North Okanagan Cultural Centre set to open in early 2028.

The much-loved Peanut Pool was revamped at a cost of $4.7 million and reopened in 2024 along with the new $3.4-million Civic Memorial Park, on the site of the former Civic Memorial Arena. Polson Park underwent a major naturalization project at the cost of $9 million.

A $50-million athletic park featuring artificial turf and ball diamonds next to the Active Living Centre was dialled back due to environmental issues. It’s now slated to be a “passive park” with phase one costing $7.1 million.

The new amenities have come with tax increases, with residents paying 35% more property tax to the City of Vernon than they did in 2022. That doesn’t include the school district, the Regional District of the North Okanagan and other amounts tied to property taxes.

Compared to 2018, when Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming first won his seat, along with current mayoral challenger Kari Gares, property taxes have increased 75%.

Vernon property tax (source: Province of British Columbia)

2018: $1,634

2022: $2,134

2026: $2,883

Property taxes have increased roughly the same amount as house prices have over the last eight years.

According to numbers from the province (which differ from those used by real estate organizations), the typical home in Vernon is worth $810,878, garnering a property tax bill of $2,883. In 2022, that typical home went for $727,854, leaving the tax bill at $2,134.

It’s a stark difference from two terms ago in 2018, when a typical Vernon property went for $459,328, and a property tax bill was $1,634.

The tax increases haven’t come for nothing – the Active Living Centre is set to open next month, however, in 2022, it was estimated that the Active Living Centre would add roughly $300 to Vernon property taxes in 2027.

Moving forward, the City also plans to spend $111 million between 2026 and 2030 for infrastructure renewal and improvements.

A City report from 2025 noted that the estimated replacement cost of the City’s infrastructure assets would be approximately $2.9 billion, but its overall infrastructure was rated in fair to good condition. The cost of replacing infrastructure in poor condition that has reached the end of its life but is still being used is $234 million.