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OPINION

It’s time for a wake-up call in Summerland. Our municipal government is making financially irresponsible decisions, and taxpayers are the ones paying the price.

From skyrocketing taxes to a disastrous solar project that generates a return of just 0.49%, it’s clear that our Council does not understand how to run Summerland like a business — even though our local government is literally called “The Corporation of the District of Summerland.”

And corporations don’t survive by throwing money away.

A solar project that defies common sense

Council pushed through an expensive solar project, ignoring cheaper, more effective alternatives that could have benefited hundreds of homes and businesses while also generating millions in revenue.
Instead, Summerland invested $7-10 million in a solar project that generates a whopping $34,751 per year in economic savings (Source: Summerland Utilities).

That’s a 0.49% return on investment.

To put that into perspective:

• If we had put that money into a simple bank account earning 3-5% interest, we’d be making $210,000–$350,000 per year.
• If Council had followed the business-based plan I proposed in 2021 while serving as President of the Summerland Chamber of Commerce, we’d be generating $250,000+ in annual tax revenue, and up to 700 homes could have received a $10,000 solar subsidy—reducing peak demand and helping families lower their energy costs.

My 2021 proposal would have:

1. Developed the proposed solar site for revenue generation, bringing in net proceeds of approximately $6 million.
2. Used those funds to subsidize solar installations for 600-700 homes and businesses, making Summerland a true leader in decentralized clean energy.
3. Applied the federal gas tax funding to fix Summerland's Road infrastructure or put a down payment on recreation repairs or projects — both of which would benefit the community far more than an inefficient solar project.

Instead, Council funnelled taxpayer money into an expensive, centralized system that will be obsolete in a decade, at a time when other parts of Canada are shutting down solar farms due to a lack of financial viability.

This is not responsible leadership. This is ideology over financial reality.

Why are Summerland’s taxes rising so fast?

Summerland’s tax increases have been excessive, and our Mayor defends them by saying other municipalities are doing it too.

That’s not a justification — that’s an excuse for bad financial management.

People don’t choose to live in Summerland because they want to be taxed like Kelowna or Penticton. They live here because they love our community, our quality of life, and our values. But increasingly, they can’t afford to stay here.

The 2024 Financial Plan (Source: Summerland Review) includes:

• 5.6% tax increase for 2024
• 7.5% electrical rate increase
• Hidden costs like $2+ million in extra sewer treatment upgrades
• No meaningful spending cuts or efficiency measures

On top of this, the federal government is set to increase the carbon tax on April 1, 2025, and new tariffs are about to drive up costs by 25%. These economic pressures are real — yet Summerland’s Council continues spending like there’s no tomorrow.

Instead of prioritizing efficiency and sustainability, they prioritize vanity projects and compare us to other municipalities. But who cares if Summerland “keeps up” with Kelowna if seniors and lower-income residents are being priced out of their homes?

Council Is Not Made Up of Business People – And It Shows

Let’s be clear—this isn’t about personal attacks. I am not saying Council members are bad people. They stepped to run for office like I have in the past which is more than others.

I am saying they are not business people and do not understand how to run a corporation efficiently.

They don’t think like entrepreneurs, who must make tough financial decisions, adapt to changing conditions, and ensure a return on investment.

Instead, they think like bureaucrats — focused on optics and municipal comparisons rather than results.

And in the process, they have lost the trust of taxpayers.

It’s time to demand better

Council had an opportunity to correct course on the solar project. Instead, they doubled down.

The council had an opportunity to listen to taxpayers during the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) vote on borrowing. Instead, they ignored overwhelming public opposition because the vote fell just a few signatures short.

Council had an opportunity to prioritize fiscal responsibility in the 2024 budget. Instead, they chose higher taxes and unchecked spending.

Summerland deserves better.

We need a Council that thinks like business owners—not bureaucrats looking for ways to justify spending more money. We need leadership that prioritizes taxpayers over ideology.

It’s not too late to change course. But if Council won’t reconsider its reckless spending, voters will be forced to make that change at the ballot box.

— Ron Kubek, Lightning Rock Winery, Summerland, B.C.

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