Kelowna residents over-taxed

Congratulations to Kelowna’s mayor and councillors for accomplishing something that must require more work than anyone outside the process could imagine.

Door knocking, fundraising and public speaking are three of my greatest fears, and you can’t win an election without them.

I can’t even kiss babies. I mean, I have three of my own, so I should be good at that. Really, it’s a minor miracle anyone runs for public office.

Not only does it require that level of work just to get inside, but you get modest rewards and constant criticism once you win. Well, anyway, about that... Roughly ten months ago I wrote a column in reaction to the City of Kelowna’s budget increase of three per cent, but I never hit “send.”

It sat in the “drafts” folder until now.

I’m happy to say it stands— mostly. I never published it because it was closing the barn door when the horse was already out, but now I have another chance.

The column was in reaction to quotes from councillors last December when the tax increase was expected to hit 3.6 per cent.

What had me in knots was Coun. Luke Stack suggesting there was little appetite for tax cuts in Kelowna.

According to The Daily Courier’s coverage of budget time, Stack said he doesn’t get many requests for lower taxes.

“I wish it (property tax) was a little less in the increase, but I’m not embarrassed about it,” Stack said.

Here you are Coun. Stack: I, David Trifunov, of Yates Road in Kelowna, B.C., is officially asking for lower taxes in 2019. You have it on record. Since I’ve moved to Kelowna in 2006 — and became a homeowner a year later — taxes have climbed 33 per cent. Yes, that’s thirty-three … Councillors, please think back to what it's like to raise a young family.

Over the past four years, your group — and all but one of you won re-election last weekend — has come across as privileged, out-oftouch talking heads only worried about playing nice with each other and city staff (yes, I did vote Saturday).

You have — in my opinion — voted for budget increases without any thought toward making actual, hard choices yourselves and instead have offloaded the hard work to your constituents.

Remember, your job is to represent taxpayers. You’re not city employees. Please, don’t heap praise on every city plan or project. Look at them critically, and think about those of us who will pay for them.

Mayor Colin Basran told The Daily Courier last year he was insulted by questions about how to cut the tax increase from 3.6 per cent.

“It’s not like they (city staff) just throw things in that they think are frivolous,” he said.

Why wouldn't they? They want more staff to keep work loads light, insulate job security, and buy more toys to play with. Why wouldn't they ask for the stars and hope for the moon? Better for them, you give them the stars.

Coun. Brad Sieben said at budget time, “There are very few things to cut from what’s presented to us."

Those of us in Okanagan media circles quickly point out the City of Kelowna’s mighty, 13-person communications staff (or is it 14 now?).

It seems inconceivable this city needs 13 people to generate press releases and recreation guides. How about that’s trimmed next time someone quits or retires? Not that anyone would quit...

If you have that level of staffing in one department, what’s happening in the others?

Coun. Charlie Hodge said last December that anyone who advocates for a tax increase of less than two per cent is “dreaming,” since that level of additional funding would take the city “backwards.”

“If you want to live in a quality community, you got to pay for it,” Hodge said. That’s baloney, and we all know it. This city could go backward, forward, sideways, upside down and underneath, and people would still move here...or would they?

Better still, if you have manageable tax increases (say, at inflation or lower) you might attract even more people to live here.

Our unemployment rate in September was a stalwart 5.7 per cent.

Our growth rate, on the other hand, is a modest 1.4 per cent. That’s below the national average and well below cities we like to make fun of: “Who would ever want to live in Guelph?”

But cities like Guelph (and Saskatoon and Regina) are setting torrid paces, and we are being left behind.

A robust economy needs people. The B.C. Construction Association estimates the provincial labour shortage at 11,700 jobs going unfilled.

While that’s actually better than 2017, it’s also just one industry.

Tourism, hi-tech and education can tell similar stories. How many middle-class workers in these industries can’t afford Kelowna?

If this city can manage cost of living — while still offering amenities — we’ll start to compete for talent with the Guelphs of the world.

Until then, stacking 3.5 or 3.6 per cent property tax increases on homeowners will do nothing but exacerbate our labour shortage.

So, please, new councillors and old, enjoy your victories now.

In two months, however, remember that you’ve asked too much from us over the past decade.

Ten years ago, I was a carefree bachelor. Now, I’ve got three babies to kiss and a mortgage to pay.

David Trifunov is former managing editor of The Daily Courier in Kelowna, an author, and a father to three children. See davidtrifunov.ca.