The City of Kelowna has handed councillors their proposals for the 2020 financial plan.
It includes a 3.9% tax hike – a 2.08% increase to municipal taxes and a 1.82% increase to the infrastructure levy.
Operating costs are expected to rise to $147.6 million (an increase of $7.7 million) and pay-as-you-go capital costs to $14.6 million (an increase of $800,000).
Revenues of $11.2 million will be deducted from the overall cost, bringing the total to $151 million.
For the average single family home (assessed at $670,900), the proposal means an $81 tax increase in 2020.
The largest expense in the 2020 operating budget is expected to be community safety ($38.27 million).
That is followed by civic operations ($31.5 million) and the fire department ($20.55 million).
“Debt and other” comes in next with $14.34 million.
Last year’s tax increase was 4.1%.
The provisional budget will be deliberated on Monday but the final tax demand will not be set until April 2020.
The City said the budget prioritizes:
Public safety – $1.08 million is proposed for 21 new safety positions, including seven new RCMP staff
Neighbourhoods and parks – $22.4 million is proposed for parks acquisition, development and improvement
Boosting economic resilience – $69.9 million is planned for Kelowna International Airport (self-funded)
Inclusivity – $1 million is earmarked for support programs
Environment – $2.8 million is proposed for storm drainage and electric vehicle charging stations
Read the whole thing here.
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