finance

Tax axe nowhere in sight as city council approves increase

KELOWNA - After a day spent hearing submissions, Kelowna city councillors are considering a potential property tax increase of 3.46 per cent, down a touch from what staff originally recommended in a budget year dominated by increases to police services and a new building to house them. Mayor Colin Basran led city councillors — some...

City budget ‘bare bones’ despite sizeable tax increase

KELOWNA — Even Kelowna’s mayor concedes it sounds odd calling a possible 3.5 per cent tax increase a “bare bones budget." “It sounds crazy but this is actually a very lean budget,” says Colin Basran, who blames two big-ticket items — Kelowna’s new police station and recent union contract settlement — for the increase. “Both...

Boonstock gives $4.5 million boost to Penticton economy

PENTICTON - Survey results released Tuesday by Boonstock festival organizers show a total economic impact of $4.5 million for the Penticton region generated by the festival over the August long weekend. Some 2,500 people responded to the survey — roughly a quarter of the 8,621 "unique attendees" over the three-and-a-half day event, according to the...

UPDATE: Bridge upgrades approved

$9.42 M BORROWING BYLAW UP NEXT KAMLOOPS - The entire Overlanders Bridge deck is set to be resurfaced in 2015 and council has agreed to tag on a multi-million dollar attached sidewalk project as well. In January, council agreed to postpone the bridge construction in the hopes of saving funds by completing the two projects...