Stay Informed and Get Involved in Budget 2023

Welcome to your space to learn about Budget 2023

Every year, the SCRD Board embark on a budget process to fund projects and initiatives undertaken by SCRD staff. This page is your space to learn more about the process and provide your feedback.

On the right you will find sections to:

Read about Budget 2023, the SCRD's Strategic Plan, and learn more about the SCRD Budget process in the "Good to Read" section

Watch community check-in information sessions after they have taken place

Check out the budget timeline to learn when decisions will be made and when you can provide your input to the SCRD Board

Find out where we are right now in the budget process

Below is all about hearing from you - you will find opportunities to:

Ask questions about projects, initiatives, and the SCRD Budget process by using the question tool

Welcome to your space to learn about Budget 2023

Every year, the SCRD Board embark on a budget process to fund projects and initiatives undertaken by SCRD staff. This page is your space to learn more about the process and provide your feedback.

On the right you will find sections to:

Read about Budget 2023, the SCRD's Strategic Plan, and learn more about the SCRD Budget process in the "Good to Read" section

Watch community check-in information sessions after they have taken place

Check out the budget timeline to learn when decisions will be made and when you can provide your input to the SCRD Board

Find out where we are right now in the budget process

Below is all about hearing from you - you will find opportunities to:

Ask questions about projects, initiatives, and the SCRD Budget process by using the question tool

Questions

Have a question about the SCRD Budget? This is where to ask it!

Do you have a question about the 2023 Budget process or projects being considered as part of the process? Add them here!

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Do the "After Round One Budget, preliminary average SCRD tax rates by area per $100,000 of assessed value" in the Feb 10 press release included parcel and frontage taxes?

Connie asked 8 months ago

Hi there - no they do not. A full and more comprehensive summary will be provided after Round 2 budget.
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Why are the property taxes so disproportionately high compared to anywhere else in Canada or bc? Will this ever level out? Why are developments still being approved with in adequate resources, such as water. If the municipality was so eager and willing to borrow money for water meters, why can’t they do the same to fix the infrastructure? Hey does a rich first world community surrounded by fresh water justify their threats of running out when they have previously decommissioned functional distribution plans, charge the highest taxes of any rural community in the province and house a large First Nations population? Are they not embarrassed and considered inadequate. Why are we not seeking assistance from the federal government for this.

Mode asked 10 months ago

Hi there,
Thank you for your question.
A moratorium on development was discussed at the SCRD Board last year. The meeting was recorded and was covered in local media: https://www.coastreporter.net/local-news/scrd-rejects-moratorium-on-new-development-4237057
The SCRD is working to increase water supply. In 2020, the SCRD asked the community to support long-term borrowing for the Church Road Well Field through an Alternative Approval Process. The same process will likely be required should the SCRD need to fund new, large water supply capital projects. You can learn more about water supply projects underway here https://letstalk.scrd.ca/water
The SCRD continues to apply for grants and advocate to other levels of government, including federal and provincial governments. For example, we are seeking the provincial government’s support to prioritize SCRD water authorizations for new water supply sources.
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How is it possible that our local government is not further ahead with a user pay model? Other local governments in BC have adopted this model long ago so it’s not like starting from scratch. A user pay model should be adopted and ready to implement as soon as meters are installed everywhere.

SMR asked 10 months ago

Residential properties currently pay a flat rate for water user fees, while commercial properties pay a volumetric rate (pay per use). About 50% of water users in the Regional Water Service Area do not have a water meter installed, meaning SCRD does not have water use data for those properties and cannot charge a user pay model. The SCRD anticipates awarding a construction contract in early 2023 for the remaining water meter installations, which take about 18 months to complete.
The SCRD initiated a water rate structure review in early December 2022. Any recommendations will be shared with the community and the SCRD Board for their consideration, likely in Fall 2023. Changes to the rates structure or service charges must be approved by the SCRD Board.
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2023 Water user fees: These are presented as fixed. But given that in 2023 all Chapman users should be put on water meters (is this correct?), please confirm that the aim is to shift to pay-for-use to incentivize water conservation. If confirmed, how and when will this be factored into our user fees, which should then become variable based on use by each household?

Darlene Tymo asked 10 months ago

Hi there, thank you for your question.
Residential properties currently pay a flat rate for water, while commercial properties pay a volumetric rate. In 2022, the SCRD Board approved a water rate structure review. Once completed, staff will engage the community on the project results/recommendations, likely next fall. Any changes to the water rate structure must be approved by the SCRD Board. No changes to the water rate structure are anticipated next year for the Chapman Water System.
With the approval of a loan in July 2021, the SCRD can complete the Phase 3 water meter installations in the District of Sechelt. The SCRD has not awarded the construction contract. We anticipate this will happen in early 2023, for project completion by 2024.

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Page last updated: 30 May 2023, 12:52 AM