West Kelowna proposes 4 per cent tax hike

Dec 10, 2021 | 2:30 PM Pete McIntyre

West Kelowna property owners could be paying an average of $82 more for city taxes next year, if council’s proposed budget is approved.

The draft plan calls for a municipal tax increase of 4 per cent, which includes 2.4 per cent for police services, and a one per cent infrastructure levy applicable in each of the five years of the financial plan.

If approved, the municipal tax hike would result in, on average, an additional $82 per home, or about $6.80 per month.

The budget consists of:

An annual capital program totaling $25.5 million, plus an addition of an Infrastructure Levy resulting in more than $360,000 to support pedestrian improvements
Total revenue of just over $63.7 million expected in the General Fund with taxation at approximately 62 per cent of revenue
Total $18.9 million in water and sewer revenue
Operating expenses for all programs and services for 2022 are $82.7 million with the largest portions for protective services, including policing, and fire rescue, at $18.5 million, and water, sewer, solid waste and recycling at $16.6 million

Operating and staffing requests total $835,000 including three additional RCMP officers and support staff for police services, a fire training officer and seasonal park operator, and five staff for the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant.

As for capital projects in 2022, infrastructure upgrades for roads, sidewalks, parks, utilities, drainage, and facilities are proposed for neighbourhoods across the city.

Highlights of the draft capital plan totals $25.5 million:

Public works yard design and construction – $5 million
Pedestrian Infrastructure Program funded in part by the Federal Gas Tax Fund and capital reserves (including Bartley Road, Old Okanagan Highway and within Westbank Town Centre) – $1.6 million
Road rehabilitation program – $1.2 million
Shannon Lake to Asquith transportation improvements – $250,000 in 2022, and $2.2 million in 2023
Drainage projects for Lakeview Road, Green Bay, Upper/Lower McDougall Creek Restoration Project – $850,000
LED streetlight replacement – $300,000 (per year over the next five years)
Parks projects comprising of playground replacement, irrigation upgrade, community gardens and dog park relocation, totaling just over $1 million for all parks and community amenities
Highlights include:
Marjorie Pritchard Park enhancements – $250,000
Beechnut Park upgrades to the parking lot, accessible ramp for lake access, non-motorized boat launch and picnic tables – $185,000
Astoria Park and Vineyard View Drive Park upgrades – $125,000
Fire training centre – $350,000
Fire Hall No. 30 building renovations – $100,000

Feedback is open on the proposed 2022 budget with first round of comments to be received by Wednesday, Jan. 19. Results will be shared with council at the Jan. 25, 2022 regular meeting.

Click here for more on the budget.