Residents of West Kelowna understand that a growing community comes with growing costs.

Roads need to be built and maintained. Water and sewer systems require investment. Parks, pathways and public facilities need attention. Police, fire and other essential services must be properly funded.

We all recognize that taxes are necessary to provide these services. But residents also deserve confidence that every tax dollar is being spent wisely.

As a candidate for West Kelowna City Council, I believe fiscal responsibility should be a fundamental responsibility of Council—and a commitment to the taxpayers who provide the money.

In the past, some major projects such as the water treatment plant, and the city hall and library took longer, and cost more than originally anticipated. (RVWTP Projected cost: $50M - Actual $75M. City Hall/Library Projected cost: $16M - Actual $24M) Taxpayers have also seen substantial increases in the cost of municipal services and infrastructure. 

West Kelowna faces growing demands for limited tax dollars. We need better roads, transportation infrastructure, reliable utilities, community amenities and essential services. We cannot do everything at once, so Council must set clear priorities and make responsible choices.

Most of us manage our household budgets by asking whether something is necessary, whether we can afford it and whether we're getting good value. I believe our city should approach public money with that same common-sense mindset.

Before approving major projects, residents deserve to understand the total cost, expected benefits, risks and how the project will be funded. I support transparent budgeting, clear project timelines, measurable outcomes and regular updates to taxpayers. When costs or timelines change, residents should know why and what Council is doing about it.

Fiscal responsibility isn’t simply about keeping taxes low today. It’s about protecting West Kelowna’s financial health for future generations.

As our community grows, I support aggressively pursuing provincial and federal funding, ensuring new development pays its fair share, and finding opportunities to share costs. Existing taxpayers should not automatically carry the full burden of new growth and infrastructure.

As a candidate for Council, I want to help build that confidence by supporting greater transparency, responsible financial management and careful consideration of every major expenditure.

After all, these aren't just City dollars. They're our tax dollars—and every dollar should count.