Prince George city council has approved the Downtown Safe, Clean and Inclusive Budget Enhancement package, which includes five priorities aimed at improving social problems in the community related to homelessness, crime and the opioid crisis.
The enhancements add a 1.29 per cent tax rate increase to the 2020 property tax levy, and, as council has already approved a 2.15 per cent increase during budget discussions, it now increases to a total of 3.44 per cent.
That includes the general tax levy increase of 1.89 per cent and a 0.26 per cent enhancement to fund a Data Processor Supervisor, a Forensic Video Analyst and a planner, which equals a combined 2.15 per cent.
Now that council approved the entire Downtown Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Package during last night’s meeting (Feb. 24), the total 2020 tax levy increases to 3.44 per cent.
The five priority enhancement package approved by council on Feb. 24. (via City of Prince George)In January 2020, the Select Committee on A Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community was established with various community partners with the aim to help tackle the city's social issues and make recommendations on the package.
Mayor Lyn Hall noted the committee didn’t approve a budget enhancement recommendation for city council’s consideration.
However, committee members did provide numerous comments, which are summarized in the meeting minutes.
He pointed to the committee’s Feb. 4 meeting's minutes, which stated some committee members requested that council finance the service enhancements from within the existing city budget.
“For consideration, some committee members suggested council direct administration to reduce each departmental budget by 0.25 per cent to financially support the proposed service enhancement,” reads the minutes.
“I know increasing the budget is a significant issue in our community. I want it to be as small as it possibly can and I think that is where staff has it,” said Coun. Frank Everitt when it came time for councillors to discuss the issue.
“We’ve got a problem we should address it and not try and put a band-aid on it and say we’ve done enough maybe we will do some more next year. This is a problem that needs to be addressed with full force.”
Although Coun. Terri McConnachie originally said she would not support priority five, after clarification about the role, she said she would support the whole package.
“I’m going to support this tonight as it stands because of the timing because it is an emergent issue,” said McConnachie.
“Moving forward, it is going to be a challenge and we are going to have a deeper conversation as we move toward our budget talks with staff. We are going to need to find some other ways if these costs remain or continue to climb.”
Mayor Hall thanked the select committee for its input regarding the 0.25 per cent reduction request but said he was in support of all five priorities.
“This is an enhancement we need and an enhancement we need to continue doing the work we’ve been asked to do,” said Hall.
“This is a provincial and federal government issue as well we need to hear from those levels of government and we are going to get there through the committee.”
Council ultimately voted on each of the five priorities separately, with everyone voting unanimously on each item except Coun. Kyle Sampson, who opposed two.
Sampson voted against priority one, the facility's request for securities costs, and priority five, the public works equipment operator and additional labourers for camp and biohazard clean-ups.
