Municipal Government

Village of Keremeos offices. (Brennan Phillips Keremeos Review)

Keremeos looking at 3.5 per cent tax increase for 2023

The village will be gathering public input at Monday’s meeting

 

The budget and property tax proved to be popular topics at Penticton city council’s first open house held March 9 at PTCC. (Brennan Phillips Western News)

Penticton’s trial open house proved popular

Around 200 people visited the PTCC to talk to city council, staff, RCMP, bylaw and fire

 

Penticton mayor Julius Bloomfield addresses a large crowd at a Chamber held meeting at Okanagan College on March 8. The new mayor addressed housing, community safety and touched on the budget. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton mayor heads to Victoria for face-to-face on mental health addictions funding

Julius Bloomfield spoke to Chamber members about how to make it a vibrant city again

 

People carry umbrellas while crossing Robson Street as rain falls in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Canada’s intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

CSIS warns ‘smart city’ technology can open door to attacks, foreign interference

AI platforms for things like traffic lights, energy use, transportation create security risk

People carry umbrellas while crossing Robson Street as rain falls in Vancouver, on Thursday, January 6, 2022. Canada’s intelligence service warns that technological innovations adopted by municipalities could be exploited by adversaries such as the Chinese government to harvest sensitive data, target diaspora communities and interfere in elections. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The kindness meter stands outside City Hall. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton council drops heritage and crime and safety committees

Council votes to reduce advisory committees down to 4 including new housing task force

The kindness meter stands outside City Hall. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Penticton City Hall. (Western News - File)

Penticton considering tax hike of up to 9.7% for 2023

Smaller increases of 6.7 or 8 per cent are also being offered to council

Penticton City Hall. (Western News - File)
city hall (file photo)

Penticton council to lay out 4 priorities for a livable, safe future

Special meeting on Tuesday to release draft budget and priorities

city hall (file photo)
This was last year’s draft budget papers that showed the potential for a 8.5 per cent tax hike. The tax increase was brought down to 5.7 per cent with the carry over to 2023’s budget. (Brennan Phillips Western News)

Penticton hosts open house on 5-year plan, community safety and utility rates

Special council meeting on Feb. 28 to release draft 2023-2027 financial plan

This was last year’s draft budget papers that showed the potential for a 8.5 per cent tax hike. The tax increase was brought down to 5.7 per cent with the carry over to 2023’s budget. (Brennan Phillips Western News)
The approved design for the new Station Street plaza. (Town of Oliver)

Skyrocketing costs scrap Station Street plaza in Oliver

It’s back to the drawing board for the revitalization project

The approved design for the new Station Street plaza. (Town of Oliver)
Revelstoke City Hall. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)

‘We are powerless right now’: Revelstoke looks at new method to enforce short term rental bylaws

The new method could help enforce issues with short term rentals

Revelstoke City Hall. (Liam Harrap/Revelstoke Review)
In the preliminary 2023 budget for Summerland, permissive tax exemptions for churches and places of worship are $63,618, while permissive tax exemptions for not-for-profit organizations are expected to come to $191,276. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland council to provide more than $400K in community support

Grant-in-aid funding, operational support, tax exemptions and other funds included in 2023 budget

In the preliminary 2023 budget for Summerland, permissive tax exemptions for churches and places of worship are $63,618, while permissive tax exemptions for not-for-profit organizations are expected to come to $191,276. (Summerland Review file photo)
Contractual increases for the Summerland RCMP detachment will add $129,624 to the cost of policing in 2023. This is one of the increases affecting the municipality’s 2023 budget. (Summerland Review file photo)

Cost increases, new initiatives add to Summerland budget

Increases are calculated in preliminary 2023 budget

Contractual increases for the Summerland RCMP detachment will add $129,624 to the cost of policing in 2023. This is one of the increases affecting the municipality’s 2023 budget. (Summerland Review file photo)
Summerland’s preliminary budget document calls for expenditures of $16,761,559, not including debt charges, transfers to capital or transfers to reserves. The chart shows how this money is to be distributed. The details may change by the time the budget is finalized. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland taxes expected to increase by 3.76%

Budget for 2023 in excess of $19M

Summerland’s preliminary budget document calls for expenditures of $16,761,559, not including debt charges, transfers to capital or transfers to reserves. The chart shows how this money is to be distributed. The details may change by the time the budget is finalized. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
City Hall. (File photo)

Penticton council to trial public open house

The open house is in response to Coun. Gilbert’s idea to create more dialogue with public

City Hall. (File photo)
The referendum for a new Summerland recreation facility is expected to take place in fall, 2023. The new facility is to replace the aging Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre, which is at the end of its serviceable life. The proposed location for the new facility is in front of the Summerland Arena and Summerland Curling Club. (Carscadden Stokes and MacDonald Architects image)

Referendum on Summerland recreation facility project expected in fall

Replacement of existing facility expected to cost close to $48 million

The referendum for a new Summerland recreation facility is expected to take place in fall, 2023. The new facility is to replace the aging Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre, which is at the end of its serviceable life. The proposed location for the new facility is in front of the Summerland Arena and Summerland Curling Club. (Carscadden Stokes and MacDonald Architects image)
Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang, left, visited Summerland on Jan. 16. With her are Summerland mayor Doug Holmes and deputy mayor Erin Trainer. (Contributed)

Minister of Municipal Affairs visits Summerland

Aging aquatic centre and delivery of primary health care among topics discussed

Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang, left, visited Summerland on Jan. 16. With her are Summerland mayor Doug Holmes and deputy mayor Erin Trainer. (Contributed)
Bonnie Forsythe with her family at the Coachman Apartments complex in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)

‘Feeling like we’re drowning’: Tenants of rundown B.C. building fear for future

Tenants living in “shocking” conditions fear losing what little they have left

Bonnie Forsythe with her family at the Coachman Apartments complex in Terrace. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/Terrace Standard)
Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas (right) gaining entry to the managers’ office at Coachman Apartments. (Submitted photo)

Northwest B.C. mayor steps in to help apartment residents after burst water pipes

Provincial emergency support services assisting displaced Terrace, B.C. tenants with hotel rooms

Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas (right) gaining entry to the managers’ office at Coachman Apartments. (Submitted photo)
Penticton City Hall. (Western News - File)

Penticton council looks to change shape of city’s future with 6 notices of motion

The motions range from pausing the bike lane to looking at the city providing land for affordable housing

Penticton City Hall. (Western News - File)
A replacement for the aging Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre is being discussed in Summerland. The project is expected to go to a referendum in spring, 2023, but if approved, construction would not begin until 2024. The cost of this facility has been estimated at $49 million. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland council to examine budget in January

Property tax changes for 2023 have not yet been determined

A replacement for the aging Summerland Aquatic and Fitness Centre is being discussed in Summerland. The project is expected to go to a referendum in spring, 2023, but if approved, construction would not begin until 2024. The cost of this facility has been estimated at $49 million. (Summerland Review file photo)