qathet Regional District’s 2020 to 2024 financial plan second draft has been introduced.
At the Wednesday, February 19, finance committee meeting, manager of financial services Linda Greenan told regional directors she would be providing a high-level overview of the second draft.
Going over the financial plan assumptions, Greenan showed a presentation slide of financial plan assumptions that indicated a two to three per cent increase on most costs.
Some changes in the second draft of the budget include shifting the acquisition of new budgeting software until 2021. Greenan said this was because the regional district wants to make sure staff members know exactly what they want to get in terms of software before a choice is made.
In the regional parks budget, the second draft included a $50,000 reserve fund contribution, increased from $25,000. Greenan said $183,000 has been allocated for parkland acquisition reserve fund contribution.
There have also been two electoral area feasibility studies identified. One is an economic development strategy, with $50,000 from the community works fund and $30,000 proposed to come from an Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET) grant. There is also a connected communities study, with the proposed financing to be $10,000 from community works and $10,000 from ICET.
There are some items in the budget that support strategic priorities. The first is climate change, including completion of a greenhouse gas reduction strategy, with a $20,000 expenditure from the community works fund. There is also a sequestration/natural asset restoration, valued at $27,300 from the community works fund. The big project is the Marine Avenue waste transfer site closure.
In parks, recreation and culture is the $183,000 contribution to the parkland acquisition reserve and gathering structure development planning for Shelter Point Park.
In social planning is a housing needs assessment and a child-care spaces needs assessment, both of which are currently underway in conjunction with the regional social planner. There is also development of a poverty reduction strategy, plus the rural paratransit route expansion and ferry connector.
In terms of public safety, there will be the continuation of the occupational health and safety program, emergency evacuation plans, and FireSmart and wildlife protection strategies, which are in progress.
Cost of regional services is $7.65 million and the capital budget is $4.74 million, the bulk of which is for the regional resource recovery centre.
For electoral area shared services, such as Powell River Public Library, planning, subregional recreation, administration, paratransit, social planning and economic development, the cost is $1.84 million.
Greenan said for the 2020 regional capital plan, there is $4,474,692 allocated to waste management for site closure and the resource-recovery centre. There are also the Haywire Bay Regional Park sani-dump, valued at $36,750, and for regional emergency, a 25-foot emergency evacuation container, valued at $25,000.
The $1,440,021 in capital expenditures for electoral areas include $866,565 for Northside Fire Department Lund satellite hall, $225,750 for the Lund sewer outfall renewal, $39,000 for a truck/transport unit for Lasqueti Volunteer Fire Department and $37,000 for the Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department rebuild of the stairway and ramp.
Greenan then outlined the 2020 requisition change by area. She said in City of Powell River, the change in requisition is 15.1 per cent, which results in a tax change per $100,000 of $6.97. The tax rate per $100,000 is $74.58.
In Electoral Area A, the change is 7.7 per cent, with a $3.04 reduction per $100,000. The tax rate per $100,000 is $334.17.
On Savary Island, the change is 11.6 per cent, with a $7.51 increase per $100,000. The tax rate per $100,000 is $196.65.
In Electoral Area B, the change is 13.3 per cent, with an $11 increase per $100,000. The tax rate per $100,000 is $233.03.
In Electoral Area C, the change is 7.2 per cent, with an $8.95 increase per $100,000. The tax rate per $100,000 is $242.58.
In Electoral Area D, the change is 12 per cent, with a $0.54 reduction per $100,000. The tax rate per $100,000 is $236.92.
In Electoral Area E, the change is 12.3 per cent, with a $9.66 increase per $100,000. The tax rate per $100,000 is $234.24.
The third draft of the budget will be introduced on March 18, with the budget set for adoption on March 30.
Finance committee chair George Doubt said it was a great report and that a thorough job had been made of presenting the information.
