PENTICTON – As the City of Penticton increased public safety staffing levels and began integrating the three-year tax deferral, statistics show the municipality remains among the lowest per capita municipal taxes among Okanagan communities with a population over 15,000 and is well below the provincial average.
“Under provincial guidelines, the City is required to report out all employees that earn more than $75,000 and is an important step in ensuring transparency and accountability,” says Angela Campbell, the City’s director of finance and administration. “The data in isolation doesn’t demonstrate the quality of life values these wages for employees bring to Penticton such as water, sewer, roads, fire protection, policing, community safety, and parks and recreation.
“A comparison of per capita municipal taxes allows us to assess if our taxation rate is reasonable for the services provided. The review illustrates Penticton ratepayers continue to get value for money for services provided.”
The data shows that Penticton’s municipal taxes per capita comes in at $858, compared to the Provincial average of $1,088. The number is determined by total property taxation for the fiscal year divided by the 2022 Census figure.
Penticton sits in the middle when compared to other Okanagan communities.
- Lake Country – $1,066
- West Kelowna – $927
- Kelowna – $842
- Vernon – $799
These communities were selected as they have a population greater than 15,000, which is the threshold for paying 90 per cent of policing costs.
The Statement of Financial Information reports remuneration of the Mayor and Council, a listing of all employees who earned more than $75,000 last year and a roll of Suppliers of Goods and Services with total payments greater than $25,000.
Campbell notes a net total of 27employees surfaced to the over $75,000 list – 10 from management, 14 from CUPE, four from the IAFF and one from IBEW. This includes the addition of 16 full-time equivalent staff added to address public safety.
Fluctuations in the over/under $75,000 list includes cost-of-living increases, overtime changes, retirements and positions made vacant and replaced. The threshold for reporting was established by the provincial government in 2002.
The report is available here
Source: City of Penticton