Residents of Central Saanich have until April 10 to provide feedback on the district's draft budget for 2025.
The district's proposed $71.6 million budget includes a $27 million capital program. If approved, the average home would pay an additional $199 per year, a 7.8 per cent tax increase.
After years of planning, the district claims its 2025 budget contains investments in infrastructure renewal that will have "minimal impact to taxpayers’ wallets."
“Our 2025 budget is the result of careful, steady planning," said Central Saanich chief administrative officer Christine Culham.
Funding to ensure the continuation of high-quality core services like fire, police, transportation infrastructure, building and planning services, bylaw enforcement, and sewer and water infrastructure is included in the draft budget.
A total of $2.67 million is earmarked for strategic investment in priority areas identified through the district’s strategic plan and funded through reserves and grants.
Additional budget highlights include $2.5 million for improvements related to the Keating Flyover, $2.27 million for the water system, and $8.65 million for the sewer system.
Culham says long-term planning is crucial in mitigating financial pressures and ensuring reliable funding streams for the district's operations, infrastructure renewal and responding to emerging community.
The district says like many local governments, it is currently in the process of replacing a large portion of its infrastructure, which was primarily constructed between the 1960s and 1980s.
They've identified more than $565 million in district-owned assets in 2017 and adopted an Asset Management Plan to progressively increase savings for the upcoming work in order to protect residents from high replacement costs.
As part of a 15-year plan to increase infrastructure investment, a tax levy was introduced in 2018 (roughly $30 of the average home's annual property tax increase). Water and sewer rates are also gradually being raised to sustainable levels.
The district's draft financial plan includes the municipality's annual budget, as well as the police and library budgets, which are up for council approval. The municipal budget accounts for roughly half of all property taxes, with the other half collected for regional agencies.
Feedback on the draft 2025 financial plan can be made during the district's upcoming budget meetings on March 31 and on April 7 at the Central Saanich Municipal Hall, 1903 Mount Newton Cross Rd., at 6:30 p.m.
Residents who wish to ask a question at the meeting can email municipalhall@csaanich.ca or call 250-652-4444.
