Police get share of extra revenue

Police, taxpayers and future citizens were showered with a little money Tuesday by West Kelowna city council.

An unexpected surplus of $440,000 was divided up in a way that a majority of council said was prudent, generous and sensible.

“This is kind of fun. It’s like winning the lottery,” Coun. Carol Zanon joked during a discussion each councillor was eager to weigh in on.

City manager Jim Zaffino said he was surprised when taxation from newly constructed properties came in much higher than expected.

“I was so pleased, and skeptical, that I double-checked the report just to make sure the figures were right,” Zaffino said.

The unexpected revenue, Mayor Doug Findlater said, “shows the benefits of growth.”

After pondering various ideas, council settled on a plan to allocate the money as follows:

— $120,000 for two more RCMP reservists this year.

— $85,000 to upgrade some police vehicles into “command centres.”

— $117,000 transferred to reserves for future uses.

— $117,000 to reduce this year’s general tax increase from 2.6 per cent to 2.2 per cent.

As the larger-than-expected taxation revenue stream will also be available next year, council also agreed to hire two more full-time RCMP officers in 2019.