90 News Projects for SCRD Budget 2023

After three days of budget discussions, the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board will consider 90 new projects and initiatives for 2023. These new projects, combined with carry forward projects from previous years mean that 260 projects and initiatives may move forward to be actioned in 2023 once the budget is adopted in March.

The SCRD’s budget process involves four public meetings.

1. Pre-budget meeting. At this meeting, SCRD staff provide information on new budget proposals for projects and initiatives for the coming year. The SCRD Board give feedback on these proposals, including areas where they would like further information to assist with decision making for the next round of budget meetings. The SCRD Board also contemplate projects that are yet to be completed from prior years (known as carry forward projects) so that they can factor workload on staff into their decision making. These meetings took place in December 2022.
2. Round one budget meetings. At this meeting new budget proposals which are now accompanied by further information including a business case summary for the proposed project / initiative are brought forward to the SCRD Board. The SCRD Board also receive presentations from community partners for service supported by the SCRD. During this meeting, budget proposals are either deferred to another year, denied or moved ahead to round two budget discussions. At this point, projected implications around taxation for the community are also presented to the Board. These meetings took place last week. You can watch the meetings here on the SCRD’s YouTube channel and download the full agenda package for the meetings here.
3. Round two budget meetings. Budget proposals that were not fully approved at round one are brought forward and a final decision is made as to whether or not they are to be incorporated into the financial plan for the upcoming year. Projected implications for taxation are again presented to the Board. The Round 2 meetings have been rescheduled from February 21-22 to March 2 to allow the Board more time to review Budget related impacts to taxation.
4. Adoption of financial plan. Following budget meetings, the financial plan – incorporating all projects and initiatives that have been moved through and discussed at the budget meetings is adopted by the SCRD Board. The budget adoption is due to take place on March 23.

The main drivers for taxation increases in this year’s budget are:

• Over $5.3 million dollars for the Regional Water Service which will include the replacement of the ultraviolet treatment system at Chapman Water Treatment Plant.
• Over $5 million dollars of investment in recreation facilities which will include a roof replacement for the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
• Additional resourcing requests due to potentially 260+ projects moving forward into 2023.
• As with governments across the Province, the SCRD is also experiencing increased cost in operations and maintenance for all the services it provides.

Preliminary Property Tax Rates

After Round One Budget, the following are the preliminary average SCRD tax rates area per $100,000 of assessed value of homes.

The figures below are not final and only cover the SCRD portion of your tax bill. More detailed information on each of the taxation areas below will be available in the updated SCRD Financial Plan prior to Round Two Budget.

Calculating the preliminary SCRD portion of your tax bill

You can calculate the preliminary 2023 SCRD portion of your tax bill in three steps:

1. Take the assessed value of your home which can be found here at BC Assessment.
2. Divide the assessed value of your home by $100,000.
3. Multiply that figure by the 2023 preliminary amounts outlined above based off of your Electoral Area or Municipality.

For example: If your home is worth $800,000 and the preliminary 2023 SCRD tax rate is $200 then the SCRD portion of your tax bill would be 8 x $200 = $1600.

Information Sessions. In-person and Virtual

On Monday February 13, 2023, SCRD staff and directors will take part in information sessions for the budget. Times and dates for these sessions are below along with links to join the meetings.

At 12:00 noon on Monday, February 13, the community is welcome to join an information session in-person from the SCRD Boardroom at 1975 Field Road, Sechelt. If you would rather join this session virtually, you can do so by clicking here.

Later that evening, SCRD staff and directors will host another information session, this time virtually at 6 p.m. You can join this session by clicking here.

Stay up to date with the budget and ask questions at any time at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget.