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Letters  

Opposes city budget

Open letter to West Kelowna’s mayor and city councillors

Re. Opposition to the 2025 city budget

I am writing on behalf of myself , my family, as a director of the Lakeview Heights Community Association and concerned residents of West Kelowna, to strongly oppose the 2025 city budget and its failure to address the needs of our community.

The current budget reflects a massive tax increase of 8.35% in 2025, which, when combined with successive hikes over the next four years, will significantly raise the cost of living for homeowners and renters alike.

At the same time, the budget shows a continued disregard for green spaces, pedestrian infrastructure, and community-oriented development, while prioritizing revenue generation from public land sales.

My key concerns with the budget include:

• The 8.35% tax increase in 2025, followed by sustained hikes through 2029, places a significant burden on families, seniors, and businesses.

• With inflation and rising housing costs, many residents simply cannot afford these ongoing tax hikes.

• Residents deserve to see meaningful community improvements in exchange for higher taxes, yet the budget does not reflect investments that enhance quality of life.

• No funds are allocated for acquiring new parks, despite ongoing residential development.

• The city continues to sell off public land (e.g., Harmon Road) instead of reinvesting in green spaces.

• West Kelowna already has a deficient park-to-resident ratio, and this budget does nothing to fix it.

• The budget allocates millions for road projects but virtually nothing for sidewalks, bike lanes, or pedestrian safety improvements.

• With increased traffic congestion, West Kelowna is becoming a city where cars dominate, rather than a balanced, livable community.

• A long-term transportation plan should prioritize all forms of mobility, not just roads for vehicles.

• The city is rushing rezoning approvals (e.g., 911 Anders Road) without proper consultation and against the recommendations of the Advisory Planning Commission.

• The decision to maximize revenue from land sales (e.g., Harmon Road) instead of reinvesting in community spaces shows a clear prioritization of profit over livability.

• Residents and community associations continue to be excluded from meaningful participation in shaping our city’s future.

• Rapid, unbalanced development is outpacing infrastructure improvements.

• The budget ignores the need for comprehensive urban planning that includes parks, pedestrian pathways, and mixed-use development that benefits all residents.

•This approach will lead to more congestion, fewer public amenities, and declining neighborhood quality.

I urge city council to reconsider the budget and long-term capital plans by:

1. Reallocating funds to acquire new parkland, particularly in growing neighborhoods.

2. Prioritizing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure rather than focusing solely on road expansion.

3. Ensuring full transparency in land sales and rezoning decisions by including more public consultation.

4. Developing a long-term strategy that balances development with infrastructure, rather than reacting piecemeal to development pressures.

Residents of West Kelowna deserve responsible taxation and responsible development that enhances—not diminishes—our community’s quality of life. We urge you to reject the current budget and demand changes that reflect the needs of the people who live and work here.

Patrick Montana



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