Cops and cameras

Photo: Darren Handschuh

Public safety and security are top priorities for Vernon heading into 2016, according to Will Pearce, the city's chief administration officer.

Council was presented with the proposed 2016 budget on Monday.

Pearce said two service improvement programs next year would focus on public safety.

One program would see nighttime police patrols in Polson Park.

This follows the August murder of Jason Hardy, who's body was found near the lawn bowling clubhouse on Aug. 26.

Three people have been charged with second degree murder.

The second would see an increase in surveillance cameras in certain areas, including the parkade and the transit station.

Council is being asked to okay early funding for two additional RCMP officers, ahead of 2016 budget approval.

Pearce said this would allow for two full-time officers to be hired in January.

“It is not inexpensive,” Pearce said, calling it the “biggest single change” in the proposed budget.

Pearce told councillors the approximately $330,000 cost could add a full percentage point to the tax rate and suggested paying for the positions through non market funded growth and reserves.

In October, North Okanagan RCMP Superintendent Jim McNamara said the detachment has carried on doing 50 jobs with funding for 48 bodies since 2013.

“It's just not going to be sustainable anymore with rising police costs,” McNamara said.

The proposed 2016 budget calls for a increase in property taxes of 3.76 per cent, according to the new financial plan. 

Finance manager Kevin Bertles said the operations would “not to exceed 1.8 per cent," which works out to an increase of $555,470 in the city's operating budget.

Bertles said provisions for salary increases of 1.5 per cent for CUPE staff and 2.5 per cent for fire fighters had been built into next year's budget.