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Summerland council faced challenges during pandemic, report shows

2020 Annual Report shows effects of COVID-19 pandemic on municipal operations
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The municipality of Summerland faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, according to information in last year’s annual report (Summerland Review file photo)

The municipality of Summerland has released its 2020 annual report, a 59-page document outlining council’s accomplishments over the past year.

The report outlines Summerland’s strategic priorities and the progress the municipality has made in these areas. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges to the community.

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In her message, Mayor Toni Boot described the year as “unsettling, unprecedented and unpredictable” as a result of the pandemic.

“Still, council faced the situation and, over time, adjusted and readjusted to the realities of conducting the business of local government during a pandemic. Our core responsibility—to provide services that ensure and enhance the welfare of residents—remained the primary focus of our decision making,” Boot said.

While the pandemic resulted in a drop in revenue, the municipality received a COVID-19 Restart Grant of $2.724 in early November.

Around half of the report consists of financial statements for 2020. The statements were audited by BDP in Kelowna.

Over the year, the municipality had budgeted revenues of $48,030,054. The actual amount of revenue was $40,112,787.

Expenses had been budgeted at $38,205,244, but came in at $33,594,597.

Summerland began the year with an accumulated surplus of $11,867,169. By the end of the year, the community”s surplus grew by $6,518,190 to $126,385,359.

The full report is part of the council agenda package and can be viewed on the municipality’s website.

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John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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