The Regional District of Nanaimo adopted a 2025 budget under the wire, but it took two votes and required a change of heart from a number of directors.
B.C. regional districts faced a March 31 deadline to pass budgets and the RDN board passed its 2025-29 financial plan at its March 25 meeting, after much dialogue, a failed vote, a brief adjournment and a second vote.
Of the 19-person board, seven directors voted against the budget initially – Ian Thorpe and Sheryl Armstrong of Nanaimo, Mark Swain from Lantzville, Lauren Melanson representing Extension-Pleasant Valley, Bob Rogers representing Nanoose, Leanne Salter for Coombs and Lehann Wallace from French Creek. It failed as the motion was weighted, requiring a two-thirds vote.
Rogers shared worries expressed by residents in a presentation at the meeting, saying he was uncomfortable with an “open number” earmarked for parkland acquisition and also felt it was premature to put the $39-million Ravensong pool expansion in the financial plan ahead of this past weekend's failed referendum on the project. He felt as well that staffing increases in corporate services and recreation and parks were unsustainable.
"I do not think our residents can afford the taxation that is necessary…” said Rogers. “Looking at those compounded increases year after year, this is not a plan that I can support.”
Stuart McLean, board vice-chairperson and Qualicum Bay director, expressed dismay after the first vote.
"The thing I'm most frustrated by is I have suggested changes … I've heard a lot of complaining, and not a lot of specific motions made to be debated. Some of them we have, and those were in camera, and we have to respect the decisions of the board, if you lose a vote, you move on. We need to grow up here," McLean said.
Doug Holmes, the RDN's chief administrative officer, reminded directors that a preliminary budget passed in December would be the default if the budget failed to pass. It features requisition levels $582,000 higher then the amended budget.
"We are too late in the process to actually make meaningful change…" he said. "As we've talked about, the interrelated nature of the services that are in the financial plan make some changes very difficult to actually follow the arithmetic through, and other changes not as difficult."
Given the looming deadline, the board decided to extend the meeting and take a break before reconvening for another vote.
During the reconsideration vote, Thorpe, Armstrong, Melanson and Swain voted in favour and Rogers, Salter and Wallace remained opposed.
"I don't think any people should feel guilty about voting their conscience on this budget," said Thorpe. "However … seeing as it is [looking like] a technicality, if you want to call it that, I will be willing to change my vote, hold my nose and support the budget."
The RDN told the News Bulletin that more information about the budget, updated with final tax requisition numbers and expenditures, will be available as soon as this week.
-files from Michael Briones/Black Press Media
