Vernon residents are on the hook for a significant tax bill next year.
City council has debated, amended, and endorsed the Proposed 2025-2029 Financial Plan, with a total projected budget increase of 11.06 per cent. This increase reflects necessary adjustments to maintain core services and fulfill prior financial commitments.
鈥淭he 2025 budget was shaped by the significant financial commitments for the Active Living Centre and RCMP staffing, which set the foundation for our planning. At the same time, managing staffing levels across the city to meet the demands of our growing community added another layer of complexity,鈥� said Mayor Victor Cumming. 鈥淭his budget required careful consideration to balance the community鈥檚 needs with service level sustainability.鈥�
Key Budget Drivers:
- Active Living Centre (ALC): A 3.5 per cent budget increase, the first of three annual instalments approved by voters in the 2022 referendum, to fund the building of the Active Living Centre.
- RCMP Obligations: A 2.31 per cent increase to RCMP operations to meet contractual commitments.
- City Operating, Infrastructure and Service Level Commitments: A 5.25 per cent increase to support the City鈥檚 existing operating expenses, infrastructure and service level requirements.
2025 Capital Program
The 2025 Capital Program includes 27 planned projects, totalling $28.6 million. These projects support the city鈥檚 long-term infrastructure replacement and upgrading.
Highlights of the 2025 Capital Program include:
- Phase 2 of the Vernon Creek Naturalization at Polson Park 鈥� $5.16 million
- Roundabout at Pleasant Valley Road and 39th Avenue intersection 鈥� $4.83 million
- Construction of a new roundabout at Phoenix Drive and Silver Star Road 鈥� $1.9 million
- Sanitary sewer replacement from Cummins Lift Station to Okanagan Landing Road 鈥� $1.2 million
- Construction of a new airport taxiway apron 鈥� $1.4 million
- Rock slope stabilization (Crosby Road and Apex Drive) 鈥� $520,000
Continuing to Support a Growing Community
鈥淭he community is growing, and so are the demands on the services we provide as a municipality,鈥� said Cumming. 鈥淐reating a fair and balanced budget in the face of rising costs and pre-existing financial commitments is a challenge.鈥�
For more information on the 2025鈥�2029 Financial Plan and the 2025 budget, visit vernon.ca/budgetprocess.
