RDCK Chair John Kettle answers concerns of Area F taxpayer
By Nelson Daily Staff
In a recent letter to the editor, Area F taxpayer Kevin LePape expressed concerns about comments made by RDCK Chair, John Kettle in a press release (link to doc) and article in The Nelson Daily announcing taxpayer savings in the recent budget.
LePape argues that the $1.5 million in savings in the general and rural services for 2014 stated in the headline is “misleading at best” and the parts of the article attributed to Kettle are contain “self-serving spin.”
Through his own research and participation in the process Mr. LePape says the surplus money is coming from “inaccurate and padded budgeting year over year,” as opposed to any reductions in expenditures by the RDCK.
In response to LePape’s claims, Kettle says he had nothing to do with the article headline and said simply that “staff and the board are always looking for ways to deliver services to our residents in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible” in a press release issued by the RDCK.
“I don’t find this comment in contravention to the writer’s letter,” Kettle told The Nelson Daily when approached for comment. “Any monies we identified through cost-cutting or identifying surplus to offset taxation is being responsible.”
Kettle added that new financial programs at the RDCK will get rid of budgets that don’t show the actual cost of doing business for departments and that he plans to introduce a motion that all future budgets be put together with a “zero base application.
What’s more, Kettle says LePape is more or less correct with his analysis of the budget surplus.
“The writer is not incorrect with his observations about the surplus and we have been making moves all along to correct our accounting systems,” Kettle says. “There is no doubt that hiring our new CFO Stuart Horn has helps us immensely and we’re looking forward to him having many years with the organization.”
Kettle noted that many assertions by LePape don’t reflect the comments he made in the RDCK press release.
“I stand by our release and encourage this gentleman and any others interested to come to our meetings and get involved in the public process so we can all hopefully make it better.”
Read the full text of Kettle’s response below.
I reviewed our press release and I stand by my comments. I cannot speak for the headline the writer is speaking about. My quote however said, “Staff and the board are always looking for ways to deliver services to our residents in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible”
I don’t find this comment in contravention to the writer’s letter. Any monies we identified either through cost cutting or identifying surplus to offset taxation is being responsible. With the new financial programs we now have we can eliminate budgets that do not reflect the actual cost of the department doing business. It is my intent to introduce a motion for consideration to have all future budgets compiled on a zero base application.
The writer is not incorrect with his observations about the surplus and we have been making moves all along to correct our accounting systems. There is no doubt the hiring of our new CFO Stuart Horn has helped us immensely and we are looking forward to him having many years with the organization.
The writer also talks about Nelson Recreation, which as you know is a separate item that is paid for by the participants. As I said before, there is a direct relationship between services and taxation. What we as a board need to focus on in my opinion is not letting the growth of government make the services we provide unsustainable without increased taxation.
We have established a benchmark by using the BC CPI for growth and wages. I believe this is innovative and responsible.
Many of the assertions and claims in this letter to the editor do not reflect my comments in our press release.
I stand by our release and I encourage this gentleman and any others interested to come to our meetings and get involved in the public process so we can all hopefully make it better.
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