I’m not sure how the city of Vernon plans to sell this increase to property owners, namely those who pay the freight to keep this city solvent.
A plethora of explanations are clustered in the 400-plus pages of weasel words touted as their 2025 – 2029 Financial Plan.
It’s hardly a succinct and readable document, just pages of back patting on how well those working for the city are performing their jobs, all stitched up in high end pay scales and, horror of horrors, defined pensions.
Look this latter one up as private industry dumped them years ago as a road to bankruptcy in favour of more financially responsible contributory plans.
On another note, let’s not forget those who don’t own property and the only alternative is to rent.
Rates are already sky high in Vernon and will now climb as landlords pass this tax increase on, a fact that will lighten tenants' discretionary income for groceries, insurance and costs related to raising a family.
Many renters are now having to pay the quarterly utility bill as part of their agreement.
Add to this the recent U.S. tariff increases on specific goods and services and renters are once again left out in the cold. Ouch!
You must also wonder when increasingly higher taxes will begin to affect property sales. Vernon has become an expensive place to live and the cause from a property perspective lies at the doorstep of the city.
The solution is obvious.
Vernon desperately needs an expanded tax base, most notably rezoning for more light industrial land.
This has somehow evaded our anti development councils for years.
The last three Census results point quite firmly at the business losses Vernon has suffered.
In fact, the city stopped publishing total business permits years ago as the numbers were a sharply declining embarrassment. Best not to let anyone know the tax base is shrinking or the money spent on economic development isn’t working!
Let’s face it, the increase will be well over 11 per cent to those who reside in upper end property developments the city uses to balance out those with lower assessed values.
That’s always been Vernon’s socialist approach to government.
Something tells me a day of reckoning is coming.
Alan D. Wilson
