Castanet

I note that the City Hall budget includes 39 - yes 39 - new jobs for the coming year: it’s even having to hire a new Human Resources person to help with all the hiring! The best of all is a new term labourer who’s job will be to wet down the Glenmore compost pile to stop it catching fire - $42k for salary and incidentals! The only councillor to find this weird is Charlie Hodge; the rest didn’t even murmur.

Since 2007 to 2017 property taxes collected by the City have gone from $81M to $135M, roughly a 67% increase: in the same period the estimated population has grown from 115k to 130k, a 13% increase. Even allowing for additional services and a more complex environment, these numbers do not make sense. Something to think about come election time.

It's interesting to see how hypocritical the message boards are. People whine and complain that nobody in town pays a fair wage. Then the city posts a job that pays "fairly" and people complain about it paying too much.

The landfill labourer is likely a union position, paying the standard rate for a labourer. The City is not able to simply pay someone 10 bucks an hour to do the job. $42,000/yr, before taxes...while it's good money for a relatively unskilled job, it's not a lot of money if you've got rent or a mortgage to pay in Kelowna.

Also EdCase, it's interesting that you noted the budget increases since 2007. That time frame includes not only the Basran administration, but Walter Gray's most recent term, as well as Sharon Shepherd before him. There are only three Councillors who've been on board for all the time frame you cited: Andre Blanleil, Luke Stack...and Charlie Hodge.

People who complain about city budgets, expenses, and payrolls are usually not good at math and have no experience in what it takes to run a city.

I guess a sprinkler was deemed over-qualified for the landfill position. smh

Jonrox wrote:People who complain about city budgets, expenses, and payrolls are usually not good at math and have no experience in what it takes to run a city.

Yea, it’s much easier to just invoke apathy and ask no questions.
This is a discussion board. Feel free not to partake if the topic or comments bother you.
The irony of someone complaining, about someone complaining, is however somewhat entertaining.

WalterWhite wrote:I guess a sprinkler was deemed over-qualified for the landfill position. smh

My first thought also when I read this. A one time expenditure of $42 K would be a pretty elaborate system which would last for many years.

JayByrd wrote:The landfill labourer is likely a union position, paying the standard rate for a labourer. The City is not able to simply pay someone 10 bucks an hour to do the job. $42,000/yr, before taxes...while it's good money for a relatively unskilled job, it's not a lot of money if you've got rent or a mortgage to pay in Kelowna.

Also EdCase, it's interesting that you noted the budget increases since 2007. That time frame includes not only the Basran administration, but Walter Gray's most recent term, as well as Sharon Shepherd before him. There are only three Councillors who've been on board for all the time frame you cited: Andre Blanleil, Luke Stack...and Charlie Hodge.

Andre is not a Councillor any longer.

I must be missing something, but it looks like you guys are complaining about paying someone $42K/year? Approx $20/hr? Last time I heard, living wage here is about $19/hr.

just wait people...they haven't even started the water project yet..hence all the new hires..word on the street is most of the money has already been spent and not one shovel in the ground in East Kelowna yet...lol... $$$$$$$
just wait...

TMBOkanagan wrote:
Andre is not a Councillor any longer.

You are correct! Sorry for missing that.

Maybe to simple, City hall budget increases should not be more then the rate of inflation. We have to live within our means and so should Governments.

casey60 wrote:Maybe to simple, City hall budget increases should not be more then the rate of inflation. We have to live within our means and so should Governments.

That's not how governments work or even should work. The goals of government spending whether civic, provincial, or national are much different than personal finances and require a completely different approach.

Jonrox wrote:

casey60 wrote:Maybe to simple, City hall budget increases should not be more then the rate of inflation. We have to live within our means and so should Governments.

That's not how governments work or even should work. The goals of government spending whether civic, provincial, or national are much different than personal finances and require a completely different approach.

This is very true. Think about the cost of maintainig or replacing aging infrastructure such as roads and civic buildings, or the extra amount of emergency professionals required to help combat the Fentanyl crisis, or raising taxes in order to acquire more parkland for a growing population.

All very predictable problems. Some are too quick to want more taxes