Kelowna council wonders if a better job could have been done informing the public of the city’s new Alternative Revenue Initiative (ARI).
The report, which identifies 125 revenue-generating opportunities, was presented to council at its morning meeting on Monday (Apr 8).
“The way the media has picked this up, all we’re hearing is the City of Kelowna looking for revenue generation,” said Coun. Luke Stack. “I think citizens hear ‘oh my God’ they’re going to nickel and dime us to death.”
Among the seven opportunities highlighted by staff is public user fees for municipal boat launches.
The report also recommends reviewing other fees and fines charged by the city, facility user fees (recreation, community centres, sports fields), developer fees for streetscape improvements, and charges to use municipally owned value-added data.
Several Kelowna media outlets reported on the ARI before it was presented to council.
“They did not paint a good picture as we all know,” said Coun. Maxine DeHart. “I’m wondering if we could have got ahead of that.”
DeHart added she and other councillors have heard many negative comments from the public about the ARI.
“There is so much going on that is good but the public sees the negative,” she told staff. “The communication has to be better.”
Director of Financial Services, Joe Sass, said the point was well taken and noted the city continues to face cost increases with a greater proportion of non-taxation revenue.
“That’s what allows to keep the tax increases where they are,” he added.
Coun. Luke Stack agreed.
“One of the things we haven’t seen in the press is that our tax increase this year was less than almost every other municipality in this area. But that’s lost in the fact that we’re looking for other revenue.”
Stack added the ARI also contains what he called key partnerships of innovation and cost reduction.
The full report and the Driving Municipal Revenue Study are available on the City of Kelowna website.
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