The Town of Osoyoos adopted their budget for 2024 for the second time after a dramatic public backlash forced another look at proposed spending.
After the budget was originally passed, residents of Osoyoos erupted over the 37 per cent hike to 2023’s taxes. Residents showed out en masse to council meetings and to an impromptu town hall to voice their issues with the budget.
Council eventually took back the adoption of the budget, and sent it back to staff to find places where cuts could be made.
On April 9, the results of those cuts went before council for another vote to adopt. The motion passed, however Councillors Myers Bennett and Jim King both voted against adopting budget.
The two councillors had previously expressed their view that further cuts could have been made to reduce the tax increase below 20 per cent for 2024.
The budget as adopted will see a combined 23.69 per cent increase to residents’ tax burden between increases to municipal property taxes and utility rates.
Based on an average property with a value of $720,000, that would equate to a $912.78 increase compared to 2023’s taxes, with $231.69 from the increased municipal taxes and $603.77 from increases to utility rates.
READ MORE: Osoyoos council makes further cuts to scale back 2024 tax hike
Those increases do not account for any tax hikes to the levy’s the town collects on behalf of the hospital, school or regional districts.
Originally, what council had adopted for the 2024 budget would have seen a $1,413.98 combined increase to the average residential property’s tax rate.
After two special budget meetings, council either canceled or deferred multiple large projects, including the $3.9 million reconstruction of Main Street and the $1.8 million Harbor Key Drive project.
At a previous council meeting staff stated that the town will be presenting potential cost estimates on either treating the town’s well-water or moving to treat lake water at a meeting in April.