City eyes 3% tax hike

Photo: Google Maps

West Kelowna's draft 2019 budget includes a three per cent tax increase.

That would equal about $58 on the average West Kelowna home, valued at $600,996.

The draft budget includes:

• $1.2 million for sidewalk construction
• $3.17 million for roadwork including $800,000 in road rehabilitation
• Funds to design Gellatly Road upgrade Phase 4 (Carrington Road to Boucherie Road) and design Glenrosa Road improvements (Glen Abbey to McGinnis)
• $2 million budgeted for an upgrade of the Gellatly Road Bridge over Powers Creek.
• The Capital Plan also calls for $5.5 million in works on the city’s water system, including a water main replacement to accommodate a new soccer dome in Rose Valley and improvements to storage in the Westbank Water System.

The is anticipating a projected growth factor of 2.4 per cent. Final growth from 2018 will not be determined by BC Assessment until March 31. 

The tax increase and growth will result in a more than $850,000 boost to city coffers.

Council will begin deliberation of the 2019-2028 Financial Plan at a special council meeting on Jan. 15.

Council will discuss the possibility of a higher tax increase, with the funds placed in reserves for future capital expenditures, along with a franchise fee on utility companies. West Kelowna is the only municipality in B.C. that does not have a such a fee.  

The draft budget will be the topic of an open house Jan. 30 at the Westbank Lions Community Centre, from 4 to 7 p.m.