The City of Kelowna tax rate has been reduced from provisional budget projection of 3.6 per cent back in December to a finalized 2.99 per cent for 2018.
The lower tax rate will mean the owner of a single-family home with an average assessed value of $641,760 will pay $1,990 for the municipal portion of their property taxes, about 57 per cent of the total tax bill with the school tax assessment the next biggest single taxation chunk at 29 per cent.
The BC Assessment Authority has also defined the average assessment increase this year at 15.38 per cent.
Related: Kelowna looking at 3.59% tax increase
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not uncommon for there to be a change from provisional to final budget,害羞草研究所� said City of Kelowna financial planning manager George King.
King said the tax reduction is a result of debt interest rate resets and increased revenue from the FortisBC Gas Franchise fee and city investments.
The reduction has been partially offset by nine additional items council approved on Monday.
Generating the most discussion from councillors among those nine items were the addition of four bylaw officers to address downtown bylaw infraction issues, three financial analyists and a $425,000 capital expenditure on phase 3 of the Rutland Centennial Park upgrade to expand the playground, infrastructure and irrigation for the park.
Coun. Charlie Hodge had concerns about the bylaw officer staffed Community Response Unit potentially being confronted with situations better handled by police.
害羞草研究所淚 personally feel a majority of the scenarios occurring in the downtown area this unit would help address come from the criminal side of situations and I害羞草研究所檓 not sure I feel comfortable of bylaw officers being placed in this situations,害羞草研究所� Hodge said.
Coun. Gail Given, who sits on the city budget audit committee, noted the CRU staff would work in conjunction with Kelowna RCMP and not be expected to insert themselves in a harm害羞草研究所檚 way of any criminal activity.
害羞草研究所淲orking closely with the police, it害羞草研究所檚 getting the best value for our money,害羞草研究所� said Given of the Community Response Unit initiative.
Mayor Colin Basran cautioned the public not think the program is an effort to move social and homelessness issues facing the downtown core to another part of the city.
害羞草研究所淭his is one aspect of a multi-faceted approach to help address an emergency need in our community,害羞草研究所� Basran said. 害羞草研究所淲e know that enforcement alone is not the answer, that providing affordable housing is the biggest need. Not everyone in need is homeless. Some people just down on their luck or one turn away from becoming homeless, others are committing street crimes that are causing us lots of problems.害羞草研究所�
Hodge questioned the hiring of three financial analyists, chartered accountants each at more than $100,000 a year, when the city manager害羞草研究所檚 position has yet to be filled.
Genelle Davidson, City of Kelowna divisional director, financial services, said the hirings were the result of an outside consultant害羞草研究所檚 review of the financial services governance model currently in place.
害羞草研究所淏ecause of the large volume of activity flowing through certain city departments, the recommendation of the consultant was to hire the certified CAs in the financial analyst roles immediately,害羞草研究所� Davidson said, noting the benefits provided of professional oversight and scrutiny of spending decisions, and financial stewardship.
The positions would be under the airport, active living and culture and civic operations departments.
害羞草研究所淎dding these people to the largest departments of high dollar transactions will be a benefit to efficiency and effectiveness to the city,害羞草研究所� added Given. 害羞草研究所淲e had an analyist put in place with fire services last year and have already seen some strong benefits.害羞草研究所�
Kelowna taxpayers will receive their property tax notices in late May.
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