With businesses shuttered and residents losing jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Kelowna anticipates revenues will plummet in 2020 and not support their proposed plan to run the city with $148 million this year. “Local governments cannot run a deficit like higher levels of government and must continue to provide many essential services that the community relies on,” Kelowna mayor Colin Basran said.
Essential services for the population of 133,800 that must be funded by city coffers include policing, fire protection, water, roads and transportation and solid waste management.
With airport operations drastically impacted by travel restrictions and quarantine measures, the city is no longer expecting the projected revenue of $46.9