There was disappointment over a denied grant application and frustration over the heavy load of new provincial housing legislation at West Kelowna council Tuesday (Mar. 26).
In 2023, the city applied for funding under the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) with a plan to complete seven initiatives and increase housing supply over the next three years.
The draft 2024 budget includes three full-time (FTE) planning positions tied to the application, which was denied.
The FTEs are needed to help deal with the increased workload on staff from the provincial government害羞草研究所檚 housing initiatives.
害羞草研究所淚f these positions aren害羞草研究所檛 funded what it will mean is害羞草研究所� long-range staff will be pulled in害羞草研究所o supplement the current staff to try to get some of these things put in place,害羞草研究所� CAO Ron Mattiussi told council.
He said it would also slow down the city害羞草研究所檚 development process.
害羞草研究所淲e believe the positions are needed, they害羞草研究所檙e critical.害羞草研究所�
The options to fund the positions were to push the property tax increase from the current 6.85 to 7.76 per cent, or dip into surplus reserves.
害羞草研究所淚t means robbing Peter to pay Paul,害羞草研究所� Mattuissi said.
Council chose the second option.
害羞草研究所淭o increase that (taxes), I don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 a good move, it害羞草研究所檚 not a proper move, it害羞草研究所檚 not right at this point in the budgetary process,害羞草研究所� said Mayor Gord Milsom.
The mayor was also disappointed over not receiving HAF funding.
害羞草研究所淧articularly as we are a young community with limited reserves,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淲e put a very good package together and we害羞草研究所檙e not supported.
The three positions are expected to cost the city an additional $377,145.
Council has yet to approve the budget and 6.85 per cent tax increase.
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