Successful markets a boost to DPA revenues
Regarding the application by the Downtown Penticton Association to have the City increase funding for events that DPA currently covers
March 6).
I think council has to be very careful they protect taxpayer interests in this case. The DPA has received millions of dollars in taxpayer-generated improvements. They have been very successful in lobbying council over the years to further their tourist-related income.
This has been a constant drain on the taxpayers in other parts of the city that need work done in their area and see their issues passed by year after year.
The Saturday markets are very successful and are also a boon to tourist activity further enhancing DPA income. The funds garnered from this market and providing street entertainment in the summer months adds to the marketability of the city furthering DPA interests as well as providing some thank you to the taxpayers that are continually being asked to ante up to PDA- income interests.
Many on the current council have direct financial interests in the downtown area; they either own property or work in the downtown area.
If they recuse themselves from any decision making on this file that leaves a maximum of four councillors to make a final decision.
I would suggest that before any decision is made that council have staff do a detailed study of how much the DPA benefits from Penticton tax dollars before coming to any decision on this.
All funds that benefit the DPA community must be included including property enhancement; Travel Penticton and any tourist-drawing activities such as the South Okanagan Events Centre and our parks and boating opportunities which aid them in their income-generating activities.
The Downtown Penticton Association needs to realize that it can’t be a oneway street.
Perhaps when a full financial accounting of benefits supplied by the taxpayer is taken into account we will find that the DPA actually owes taxpayers money and should be contributing more to our city than it presently does.