Vernon residents could get 8% tax hike

Vernon residents could be looking at up to an eight per cent property tax hike next year.

An eight per cent increase was the highest number of three options presented to council at its Nov. 8 meeting, ahead of budget deliberations that take place at the end of the month.

Vernon City council had requested that property tax be kept at a two per cent increase, but the administration told council such an increase would be impossible without cutting levels of service.

City administrators told councillors an eight per cent tax increase would include RCMP support positions, a communications officer, six months of operating costs for the new Civic Memorial Park, enhanced turf cleaning at Kin Beach, and two new firefighters. The increase would also include funds for an administration assistant and fire apparatus for the fire department.

Council were told the RCMP alone is set to cost the city an extra $1 million and a minimum of a 2.3 per cent increase would be needed just to cover this extra cost.

Councillors were also presented with two other options: a 7.21 per cent tax increase, or a 5.31 per cent increase.

Council budget deliberations are scheduled for Nov. 29 and Nov. 30, 2021, prior to councillors finalizing the 2023 tax rate.

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