2023 Budget Talks

Review the document

• Draft 2023-2027 Financial and Corporate Business Plan

• Proposed 2023 Municipal Grants, Special Events and Partnerships

News and Information

• 2023-02-28 Budget focuses on safety, housing and fiscal sustainability

  NEWS RELEASE
  
  The 2023 Financial and Corporate Business Plan reaffirms the City of Penticton’s focus on safety, lays the groundwork for attainable housing, and maintains established service levels, all while ensuring a sustainable fiscal future.

  “This plan builds on the work already done to advance community safety by adding four firefighters and two RCMP officers. It also sees funding to lay the groundwork for affordable and attainable housing and ensures expectations for City services in our parks and on our roads are met,” says Angela Campbell, the City’s Chief Financial Officer and General Manager of Finance and Administration.“ At the same time, the City is facing inflationary pressures, and the budget ensures we maintain our core services, deal with legacy fiscal implications and keep the impact as sustainable as possible.”

  As proposed, the budget includes an increase of 3.4 percent to meet operational expectations, inflationary pressures and contractual obligations, as well as a proposed three percent increase to meet the strategic priorities of Council and enhance operations.

  This budget also contains the first year of the tax deferral made by the previous Council that is being phased in at 3.3 percent per year over the next three years. Combined, Council will consider a tax rate increase in the range of 6.7 to 9.7 percent.

  “In the 2022 Budget, Council responded to the community’s desire to focus on safety and made major commitments in that area,” says Campbell. “At the same time, Council recognized our residents and businesses were experiencing difficult times due to the pandemic and chose to limit the impact by deferring tax increases and scheduled them to be phased in over the next three years.” 

  Noting the City is not allowed by provincial legislation to run a deficit, Campbell says it is not sustainable to keep borrowing from the reserves and that the proposed budget allows for a gradual return to revenues that support the municipality’s operations.

  “It’s similar to as if your monthly household expenses go up but your total income doesn’t,” she says. “You can dip into your savings for awhile, but at some point you have to readjust. This budget maintains the high level of services the public expects and allows us to ensure they remain affordable now and in the future.”

  The impact for an average homeowner would be an increase of up to approximately $20 a month, including utilities. Penticton continues to have one of the lowest total residential taxes rates in the region.

  The 2023 Financial and Corporate Business Plan can be found at https://www.penticton.ca/2023-budget 

  One Backgrounder Attached

  Residents invited to get involved in the 2023 Budget

  Residents can review the proposed 2023-2027 Financial Plan and learn more about how they can get involved at www.shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. Below is a list of the key dates and activities where residents can learn more and share their feedback.  

  February 28 - Following the Council meeting on Feb. 28, you can review the proposed 2023-2027 Financial Plan and supporting materials at www.shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. Paper copies can be viewed at the City’s engagement kiosks at City Hall, the Community Centre and the Library. Feedback will be collected through to the end of day on March 10.

  March 6 - Attend an online information session between 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants will receive a short presentation and have the opportunity to ask staff questions. Register at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca to attend.

  March 8 - Members of the business community are invited to see an address by the Mayor about priorities for the City in a separate event hosted by the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. Check the Chamber’s website (www.penticton.org) for information on how to purchase tickets for the breakfast.

  March 9 - Drop by the Council Open House between 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre to discuss the budget, community safety and the utility rate review with Council and staff. RCMP Superintendent Brian Hunter, Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and Bylaw Services Manager Tina Mercier will also be in attendance to speak with residents. 

  March 10 - Last day to complete the feedback form to share your thoughts with Council.

  March 14 - See the presentation of the engagement results shared with Council at the start of budget deliberations at 8:30 a.m.

  March 14 and 15 - Attend budget deliberations in person in Council Chambers from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continuing on March 15. An extra session is planned for March 16 beginning at 2 p.m. if required. Can’t attend in person? The deliberations will be streamed online at www.penticton.ca. Residents will also have the opportunity to address Council in-person or on Zoom during the deliberations. Watch for details when the agenda is published at www.penticton.ca.

• 2023-02-24 Public Notice Special Meeting of Council

  PUBLIC NOTICE

  Special Meeting of Council

  Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

  A Special meeting of Council will be held in Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. to endorse Council Priorities and provide the 2023-2027 Financial Plan overview.

• 2023-02-24 Community gets first look at Council's Priorities

  NEWS RELEASE
  
  The four priorities that will lay the foundation for the City of Penticton over the next few years will be presented on Tuesday.

  “These are the priorities that council has said that they want to underpin all of the municipality’s planning as we move forward,” says Cheryl Hardisty, manager of council and executive operations for the City of Penticton. “If approved, they will provide clear direction for staff when developing initiatives  and budgets and allow us to monitor the progress as we move forward. These areas of focus  are designed to reflect what City Council has heard from the community.” Key initiatives in support of these goals will be identified in the Financial & Corporate Business Plans and will be updated each year. 

  The four priorities identified are:

  • Safe and Resilient: Enhance and protect the safety of all residents and visitors to Penticton
  • Livable and Accessible: Proactively plan for deliberate growth; focused on an inclusive, healthy, safe and desirable place to live
  • Vibrant and Connected Communities: Support vibrant and diverse activities creating opportunities for connection in community
  • Organizational Excellence:  Supporting a culture of service excellence built on good governance, leadership and sound financial decisions

  These priorities have been drafted based on working sessions with City Council, where a number of key strategic areas were identified and a goal statement was created for each. 

• 2023-02-23 Mayor reflects on budget prep, wants your feedback

  BLOG POST

  By Mayor Julius Bloomfield

  The proposed budget for 2023 will be presented shortly and we’re expecting it to be a challenging year given the external pressures the City, like all of you, are facing. Budget deliberations are one of the most important activities we undertake annually and it is important to ensure residents are aware of and understand the pressures that are influencing the City’s finances. 

  That is why I am writing to residents today. Before we discuss and debate the upcoming budget, it is important to look back and remember the decisions that were made during the last budget and how they will influence our finances over the coming years. A lot has changed since the last budget was deliberated in November 2021. We were still in the pandemic, the province had provided emergency funding in 2020 to help sustain us, and community safety was a growing concern.

  Council made two significant decisions then: a major investment in public safety and a tax deferral.

  The decision to increase the number of police officers, add firefighters and expand the Community Safety Officer program garnered most of the attention. It was the right decision to make and the City continues to focus on safety, with more investments being looked at in light of the Community Safety Resources Review.

  The tax deferral, though, was also important although not as well remembered. As the economic blows of COVID-19 were still being felt, Council wanted to mitigate the tax increase needed to add services for those who were struggling and chose to delay some of the impact to the following three years, using reserve funds to make up the difference. The tax deferral that was decided by Council was 10 per cent to be phased in over the following three budget cycles.

  So how does that impact the 2023 tax rate? We will need to address the deferrals – likely over a phased-in period - in addition to any other tax increases that are expected including contractual obligations and increased inflationary costs.  Provincial legislation prevents municipalities from running a deficit and taking from the reserves is not sustainable over the long term.  

  Making budget decisions are never easy. As stewards of your money, the City does its best to balance the expectations for a safe, livable and vibrant community with budget constraints and requirements. And that’s why we want to hear for you. There will be some candid discussions and that’s good, as Penticton residents have never been afraid of sharing their thoughts. Part of the discussion is understanding where we’ve been, where we are and where we want to get to. 

  As part of the upcoming budget process, residents are invited to get involved, learn more and share your feedback. Council encourages you to get involved in this and future engagement activities as these are the opportunities to have your say and shape your city before decisions are made. You can find information about the upcoming budget and the opportunities to get involved at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.

  One of the main opportunities will be at the Council-hosted Open House set for March 9 at the Trade and Convention Centre. Drop by between 4 pm to 7 p.m. to speak to Council and members of staff. There are a variety topics up for discussion – including several components of community safety and the utility rate review – and all of them have budget implications. There will also be an online engagement process to ensure everyone has a chance to provide input. 

  We have some very important issues to deal with this term and we encourage residents to take steps now to get involved in the future of the community in ways they may never have before – beginning with attending this Council Open House. We look forward to seeing you there.
   

• 2023-02-22 Hold the date! Council to host Open House to discuss the budget, community safety and other 'Hot Topics'

  NEWS RELEASE

  All residents are asked to mark their calendars and plan to attend the first Council-hosted Open House on March 9 from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. Members of Council will be on hand to discuss their priorities, community safety, the utility rate review as well as the proposed 2023-2027 Financial Plan.

  “Events such as this are the community’s opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities the City is facing and share their views before decisions are made,” said Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield. “We have some very important issues to deal with this term and we encourage residents to take steps now to get involved in the future of the community in ways they may never have before - beginning with attending this Council open house.”

  Council’s new priorities and the proposed 2023-2027 Financial and Corporate Business Plans are expected to be finalized and released as part of a Special Council Meeting on Feb. 28 for residents to review in advance of the open house. 

  Residents will also have the opportunity to learn more about the City’s plans for community safety and the upcoming Utility Rate Review. RCMP Superintendent Brian Hunter, Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and Bylaw Services Manager Tina Mercier, and members of their teams, will be in attendance to discuss the City’s plans for community safety. 

  Get involved in the 2023-2027 Financial Plan

  The Council Open House is one of several opportunities for residents to get involved in the 2023-2027 Financial Plan. Residents and businesses interested in learning more about the budget and sharing their feedback will have the following opportunities during the public consultation period which runs from Feb. 28 through to end of day on March 10.

  • Review the proposed 2023-2027 Financial Plan at www.shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. Paper copies can be viewed at the City’s engagement kiosks at City Hall, the Community Centre and the Library. Feedback will be collected through to the end of day on March 10. 
  • Attend an online information session on March 6 between 6:30 - 8 pm. Participants will receive a short presentation and have the opportunity to ask staff questions. Register to attend at www.shapeyourcitypenticton.ca.
  • Members of the business community are invited to see an address by the Mayor about priorities for the City in a separate event on March 8, 2023 hosted by the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. Check the Chamber’s website (www.penticton.org) for information on how to purchase tickets. 
  • Drop by the Council Open House on March 9 between 4 pm – 7 pm at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre to discuss the budget, community safety and the utility rate review with Council and staff. RCMP Superintendent Brian Hunter, Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and Bylaw Services Manager Tina Siebert will also be in attendance to speak with residents.
  • See the presentation of the engagement results shared with Council at the start of budget deliberations on March 14 at 8:30 am.
  • Attend budget deliberations in person in Council Chambers beginning March 14, 2023 from 8:30 am to 5 pm and continuing on March 15 from 8:30 am to 5 pm. An extra session is planned for March 16 beginning at 2 pm if required. Can’t attend in person? The deliberations will be streamed online at www.penticton.ca.
  • Residents will also have the opportunity to address Council in-person or on Zoom during the deliberations. Watch for details when the agenda is published.
     

Key dates for Community Involvement