Our Infrastructure Challenge
Consultation has concluded
Like other communities across Canada, Penticton is facing the challenge of funding the rising costs of aging infrastructure.The amount of money Penticton needs to fix or replace our roads, parks, buildings and storm system is estimated to be $175 million and growing.
Moving forward, we will have some difficult decisions to make about our services and facilities. It is important that all citizens understand the issues, share ideas, get involved in key decisions and support the final plan.
Be part of the solution
Watch a Video to learn about the problem and go to Suggest Ideas and Complete a Survey to share your thoughts.
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The City is looking at a number of ideas to fund the $8 million needed every year for the next 10 years. Descriptions of some of the ideas are included below to help you understand some of the options and suggest more ideas. Please be aware that the purpose of this tool is to gather ideas for the City and Council to consider as they develop the plan. (Please note you must register to submit ideas. If you prefer to not set up an account, you may also submit ideas through the survey.)
View All Ideasover 7 years ago
Allocate portion of increased property taxes, the result of densification, to rebuild/maintain infrastructure and not into general revenue.
Promote densification and allocate tax windfall
over 7 years ago
Increase taxes
The majority of funding for the operation and maintenance of our facilities and infrastructure comes from property taxes. The main problem for Penticton is the fact that our population has not grown as projected for over a decade. This means that the same number of taxpayers continue to shoulder the rising costs of our infrastructure. And during this same period, annual tax increases have not been enough to make up for the lack of growth. Today, taxes are not enough to cover the significant amount needed to plan for the replacement of assets like our roads and facilities while maintaining our current service levels.
over 7 years ago
Lobby for government grants
over 7 years ago
Impose a higher tax rate on vacant land and improved premises
Currently there are a number of brown fields and vacant improved properties that have been sitting idle for months and years. These sites are located in the industrial park, the downtown core and on several major thoroughfares. Taxes should be increased on these properties to increase holding costs and promote development.
over 7 years ago
Hold User Fees for Residents Constant and Increase Non-resident User Fees
Approximately 10-13% of recreation centre users are non-residents of the city of Penticton, that do not pay property taxes directly through property ownership or indirectly through renting property. The 2012 and 2013 citizen satisfaction sureveys showed, respectively, that 63% and 54% of the citizens in Penticton favoured charging a higher fee for non-residents for the usage of city facilities. In the absence of any negotiated agreements for cost sharing with the RDOS or nearby cities and communities, this needs to be revisited.
