Budget 2023

Sooke’s budget under development with first draft to be presented on April 11th public meeting

Thursday, March 23, 2023 - District Council is looking to reduce a property tax increase on district services from $131 to less than $100 (based on the average assessed residential property) for 2023.

“Everyone is facing cost pressures and Council is looking to reduce the financial impact on residents while still responding to the needs of a growing community,” said Mayor Maja Tait. “Where we’re hearing numerous municipalities are sitting at an increase that would cost households two-to-three times, even more, keeping a district property increase in line with inflation and below $100 is a priority.”

On Tuesday, District Council completed its service level review. Next, staff will present a draft budget at the April 11, 2023 Council meeting.

Currently, the 2023 budget sees the District investing in community safety, roads, parks, and environmental services.

More specifically, key budget items include:

• Increased fire and police service delivery - working towards 24/7 coverage in both areas and reducing call response times
• Increased road maintenance and paving service delivery
• Church Road Roundabout
• New park amenities including:
  1. Little River Crossing
  2. Additional recreation facilities at Ravens Ridge Park
• Streetlight and transit stop improvements

Informed by community input, master plans and technical expertise: Understanding more about the budget process

The district’s budget is informed through public participation (citizen budget survey and community pop-ups from mid-June to mid-July each year), master plans and technical guidance from staff.

With these three inputs, staff prepare a preliminary budget. Next, Council directs staff on service levels such as investing more in road maintenance or working to decrease emergency call response times by enhancing police and fire services.

After the service level review is complete, a draft budget is presented to Council for readings at a public meeting. Then, a community open house is held to inform residents about the budget and projects taking place for the remainder of the year.

Following the open house, the budget is adopted.

Council must adopt its budget by May 15^th each year.

Learn more:

• 2023 Budget Information Brief
• Financial Planning Information Page
• Budget 2023 Update (February 24, 2023): Initial Consideration Given to Police and Fire Staff Resources, and Climate Action
• Budget 2023 Update (February 17, 2023): Citizen Budget Survey – What We Heard Report Now Available (sooke.ca)

The first in a series of 2023 service-level budget discussions began on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 and resulted in the following recommendations:

• THAT Council direct staff to approve the inclusion of two (2) new (police) officers in the 2024 budget, two (2) new officers in the 2025 budget, and one (1) in the 2026 budget, of the 2023-2027 Five Year Financial Plan.
• THAT Council direct staff to bring forward to Council an amended Future Police Costs Reserve Bylaw No. 653 that includes an update to section 4(a) that requires Traffic Fine Revenue to be deposited into the reserve fund with no expiry date.
• THAT Council endorse the implementation of the firefighter staffing recommendations for the Fire Master Plan and approve a four-year staffing strategy for inclusion in the 2023-2027 Five Year Financial Plan.
• THAT Council approve the funding of $27,000 to leverage the $135,000 in funding through the Provincial Local Government Climate Action Program Funding and that the funding be used to hire a Climate Action Coordinator.

What's next:

• These recommendations will be presented to Council on Monday, February 27, 2023.
• On Friday, March 17 and Monday, March 21, 2023 service-level discussions for remaining District operations will continue. Potential capital projects will also be discussed.
• Tentative date (Monday, April 10, 2023): Council to consider first, second and third reading of Budget 2023
• Tentative date (Tuesday, April 18, 2023): Community Budget Open House
• Tentative date (Monday, April 24, 2023): Council to consider fourth reading (adoption of Bylaw) following Budget Open House

What happens after the budget is approved?

• Director of Finance will receive third-party tax rate information from agencies such as the provincial government (Provincial School Tax), Capital Regional District, etc.
• Director of Finance will present the Tax Rate Bylaw to Council at a public meeting.
• May 2023: Tax Rate Bylaw Adopted
• Late May 2023: Property Tax Notices issued

Related:

• Budget 2023 Update: Citizen Budget Survey – What We Heard Report Now Available (sooke.ca)
• Presentation from Sooke RCMP Detachment Staff Sargent Kevin Shaw
• Presentation from District of Sooke Fire Chief, Ted Ruiter
• Presentation and Discussion on Climate Action Next Steps

The District of Sooke’s participatory budget process includes two phases of engagement:

• Phase one: Citizen Budget Survey and community conversations at local markets
• Phase two: Budget Open House

The Phase One District of Sooke Public Engagement What We Heard Report is available here.

More on this report

The District of Sooke conducts a citizen budget survey and attends local markets to discuss the district budget annually from mid-June to mid-July.

Using the Citizen Budget survey, residents can enter their assessed property value and see how their tax dollars are distributed between district service areas. Through the survey, residents can also:

• advise on satisfaction levels;
• rate the importance of services;
• propose changes such as increase or decrease to various service areas; and
• provide additional comments.

At local markets, residents can participate in a tax dollar distribution activity and have related questions answered.

Key learnings from phase one budget engagement include:

• Increased public understanding of municipal budget challenges.

Building a budget that meets the needs of Sooke while balancing what’s possible especially given current economic realities and pandemic recovery is not easy. Residents acknowledged this challenge during this phase of engagement and, generally, recognized not all things can be funded. In short, difficult decisions need to be made.

• Understanding that property taxes may need to increase.

When given the option to express an increase, decrease or no change for funding of services areas, most respondents expressed “status quo.” Where a decrease in funding was not possible (with reasons provided to substantiate this claim), survey participants expressed support to increase funding and not remain “status quo.”

• Areas of priority: roads, parks and environmental services, and community safety.

Survey respondents including conversations at local markets affirm funding priorities in the areas of roads (maintenance in particular), parks and environmental services, and community safety (both police and fire services).

• Shorten survey. Enhance market experience.

Participants describe the interactive market experience as “challenging (in a good way)”, “informative”, “fun” and “a great experience.”

By contrast, the survey has tried to achieve too much and will be adapted to increase its accessibility and enhance the value of the data collected through this mechanism. It is anticipated this will also increase survey participation. To retain the informational value of the content provided in the survey, supplemental PDFs (one-pagers) summarizing service areas can be offered to provide easy access to this information for those seeking it.

Resident feedback is used to inform budget development, along with Council’s strategic priorities and approved master plans.

As staff develop a preliminary budget with your feedback, Service Area Heads will report to Council through the Committee of the Whole to discuss changes to service levels. Examples of service-level discussions include:

• the number of police officers or firefighters to minimize call response times;
• changes to the roads contract;
• resources needed to support the implementation of the Transportation Master Plan and Parks and Trails Master Plan;
• scope of services to help meet the District’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets; and
• priorities for community events, seasonal adornment and local area beautification.

Where are we at in the District’s 2023 Budgeting Process? What’s next?

• February 21, 2023: Through the Committee of the Whole, staff will receive direction on fire, police and climate action service levels.
• [date to be confirmed]: Through the Committee of the Whole, staff presentations on service levels and preliminary budget considerations.
• [date to be confirmed]: Council to consider first, second and third reading of Budget 2023.
• [date to be confirmed]: Community Event (Phase two public engagement) - Budget Open House
• [date to be confirmed]: Council to consider fourth reading (adoption) of Budget 2023.

What happens after the budget is approved?

• Late spring 2023: Director of Finance to receive third-party tax rate information
• Late spring 2023: Director of Finance to present tax rate bylaw to Council
• Late April/Early May 2023: Tax rate bylaw adopted
• Late May 2023: Property Tax notices issued

Questions or comments?

Please email budget@sooke.ca to provide comments on the District’s budget.

The budget conversation takes place over several months, beginning with the citizen budget survey (available every year from mid-June to mid-July).

Throughout the summer and fall, staff have been reviewing your feedback and, along with projects identified in approved master plans, developing a preliminary budget for Council's consideration. Early in the new year, this preliminary budget will guide service-level discussions and related Council decision-making.

Residents will have another opportunity to provide input on the draft budget at a community budget open house, anticipated to occur in early spring.

To inform the budget conversations, a budget (information) brief provides a look at the following:

• the budget process;
• answers frequently asked questions;
• shows how District property taxes compare to other municipalities;
• show how property tax dollars are distributed between service areas;
• shows the distribution of taxes collected for both District service areas and on behalf of other agencies; and
• highlights other funding sources available to the district.

Please make use of this resource to learn more about district budgeting.

At a Special Council Meeting on December 5, 2022 at 1pm, Council will receive presentations from community organizations which currently have service agreements in place to determine whether or not the District will continue with a service agreement, and if continuing, allocate a fee for the service.

The agreements to be reviewed at the December 5, 2022 meeting include:

• Sooke Food Bank
• Sooke Regional Community Health Initiative
• Sooke Community Association
• Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce
• Sooke Regional Tourism Association
• Visitor Information Centre
• Sooke Lions Club

See more in the meeting agenda here >>

Attend in person, Council Chambers, 2225 Otter Point Road or watch the live-stream/view the recording on our YouTube channel >>

Thank you to the approximately 177 residents who completed the 2023 Citizen Budget Survey. Your input in this survey, combined with master plans, will inform the upcoming budget. The information gathered through the survey will be shared in a "What We Heard" report before budget deliberations begin. Please stay tuned!

You’re invited to participate in the 2023 Citizen Budget Survey! Residents can participate using the online platform until Sunday, July 17, 2022.

Using the Citizen Budget survey, residents can enter their assessed property value and see how their tax dollars are distributed between district service areas. Through the survey, residents can also:

• advise on satisfaction levels;
• rate the importance of services;
• propose changes such as increase or decrease to various service areas; and
• provide additional comments.

By joining the budget conversation and staying connected throughout the process, residents will learn:

• opportunities and limitations of the district’s budget; and
• what projects and service changes are planned within the five-year financial plan.

“We are committed to an open budget process and want to hear from residents to inform our financial planning. By engaging with residents early, in particular when property taxes are being paid, we hope to increase participation,” says Mayor Maja Tait.“We’re listening and working hard to respond to the needs of a growing community,” Tait adds.

Participation for those without computer access is available by phone or in person.

Call 250.642.1634 or book a time online to complete the survey by phone, or participate in person at a local market where mobile kiosks will be available.

Community feedback through this process will be presented and discussed at a Committee of the Whole meeting in the fall before budget deliberations begin.

Learn more and participate:

• Citizen Budget Survey
• Book Your Call Online (to complete the survey by phone)
• Let’s Talk Budget Platform
• 2022-2026 Five-Year Financial Plan
• Parks and Trails Master Plan
• Transportation Master Plan

Contact:
District of Sooke Reception
Tel: 250.642.1634 l e: budget@sooke.ca