Budget 2024

The District is committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility while responding to the needs of a growing community. To best invest your tax dollars, we need to hear from you!
Our annual budget survey is your opportunity to tell us about your opinion on service priorities for the District of Sooke. 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.
Engage with us!
The District of Sooke’s participatory budget process includes two phases of engagement:
- Phase one: Budget Survey and community conversations at local markets from June 21, 2023 to August 20, 2023.
- Phase two: Budget Open House - date: to be confirmed
The District is committed to ensuring fiscal responsibility while responding to the needs of a growing community. To best invest your tax dollars, we need to hear from you!
Our annual budget survey is your opportunity to tell us about your opinion on service priorities for the District of Sooke. 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.
Engage with us!
The District of Sooke’s participatory budget process includes two phases of engagement:
- Phase one: Budget Survey and community conversations at local markets from June 21, 2023 to August 20, 2023.
- Phase two: Budget Open House - date: to be confirmed
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What We Heard - Budget 2024 Report Now Available
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkThe District of Sooke invited residents to provide input into the District’s 2024 Budget from June 21 to August 20, 2023. Throughout the engagement period, participants provided feedback
Click image to view reportby survey and at community pop-ups --- engaging more than 1,000 persons through all mediums.
The What We Heard Report summarizes our approach to engagement, including who we heard from, how we listened, and what we learned.
What we heard from participants will be used to help inform the 2024 budget and highlight for Council what is important to residents as work is undertaken to update the financial plan and finalize next year's budget.
Through this engagement, we sought to understand more about:
- Residents’ quality of life and opportunities for the District to enhance the quality of life for our residents;
- The importance of various local government services and the value residents feel they are receiving for current services;
- What changes residents would like the District to make regarding services; and
- How much residents would like to see invested in long-term infrastructure maintenance and replacement.
Through this engagement, we also looked to educate residents on the current availability of District services and the limitations of the District’s budget.
A variety of engagement tactics allowed as many voices as possible to be heard, given available resources. These experiences included detailed information on the Let’s Talk Sooke Budget information page (letstalk.sooke.ca/budget), ten community pop-ups at local parks and markets with an interactive dot-voting station taking place on evenings and weekends, and a survey in three forms: digital short form (open 24/7 for 2-months), digital long form (open 24/7 for 2-months), and a random household sample print survey (delivered to 200 households).
While analysis and interpretation have been conducted in-house with best efforts to exclude any potential bias, raw data is included in this report in our commitment to complete transparency.
In short, through the range of feedback received, the key priority areas that emerged are:
- Ability to safely walk or bike around Sooke;
- Traffic planning and management, including road maintenance;
- Emergency response services (police and fire);
- Parks and greenspaces (including care for the environment);
- Health and wellness services; and
- Community planning.
Further to the above priorities, other data highlights include:
- 61% of survey respondents rated their quality of life in Sooke 4 or 5 stars; 30% rated their quality of life in Sooke as average or 3 stars and 9% indicated a less desirable quality of life with 8% giving 2 stars and 1% giving 1 star.
- 72% of respondents to the long-form survey reported being satisfied with the overall value they are receiving for District services with 45% rating the value paid for District services 3 out of 5 stars; 20% rating 4 out of 5 stars and 7% rating 5 out of 5 stars.
- In looking at specific service areas, the majority of residents expressed satisfaction with ALL District service areas. Long-form survey respondents indicated:
- the highest level of satisfaction with Fire Rescue Services --- 90% of respondents shared they are satisfied or feel they are receiving good or excellent value from this service area.
- the lowest level of satisfaction with local roads --- 59% of survey respondents shared they are satisfied or feel they are receiving good or excellent value from this service area.
Lastly, additional key learnings to inform the process as a whole include:
- To increase services, an increase in property taxes is required. In doing so, staff are committed to ensuring utmost fiscal responsibility with an investment in priorities expressed by the community.
- At the request of residents during last year’s budget engagement, an option to indicate where residents may wish to pay more to see services increase was asked in this year’s budget conversation.
- The longer engagement period and simplified survey work well for Sooke residents.
- Engagement rates increased by an estimated 50% this year with numerous comments received applauding the process. Survey participation increased by 34% and in-person engagement increased by an estimated 75%.
- Capture non-resident and youth perspectives through future budget engagement processes.
- Staff are always looking to evolve the process to receive the most relevant data and inspire ongoing commitment to local government engagement. Keen interest was expressed to include these two audiences in future budget participation opportunities.
What's next?
- Preliminary budget development
- Service level review and Council direction
- First Reading (introduction) of District's 2024 Budget at a Regular Council Meeting
- Second Reading (initial discussion) of District's 2024 Budget at Regular Council Meeting
- Third Reading (final discussion) of District's 2024 Budget at Regular Council Meeting
- Budget Information Video Production
- Community Budget Open House to inform on 2024 priorities
- Budget Adoption
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Thank you for participating in phase one of the District's Open Budget Process!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkApproximately 1,000 people engaged in this year's Annual Budget Survey and Community Pop-Up experience to inform the District's 2024 budget! Thank you for the great conversations over the last 2-months! Your input lays the foundation for our budget development.
A What We Heard Report will be available before budget deliberations begin.
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Last pop-up of this phase of Budget 2024 engagement is August 17th!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkJoin Community Economic Development Officer, Gail Scott, and Communications Coordinator, Christina Moog, for the last pop-up of this phase of Budget 2024 engagement!
Stop by the District of Sooke booth at the Sooke Region Museum Night Market on Thursday, August 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. to say "hello", provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. Choose from: reusable tote bags, produce bags, water bottles and frisbees!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
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Say "hi" to Carolyn and Christina at Broomhill Playground on August 16th!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe're keeping the conversation going to hear from as many residents as possible! Your input is foundational to our budget development. Have your say and let's talk about Budget 2024!
Stop by Broomhill Playground from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to say "hello," provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. Choose from: reusable tote bags, produce bags, water bottles and frisbees!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? Participate online before the survey closes on Sunday, August 20th!
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Stop by the Hannah Day Playground in Sunriver on August 15th to talk about Budget 2024!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkWe're keeping the conversation going to hear from as many residents as possible! Your input is foundational to our budget development. Have your say and let's talk about Budget 2024!
Stop by the District of Sooke booth from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to say "hello," provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. There are reusable tote bags, produce bags, water bottles and frisbees!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? Participate online before the survey closes on Sunday, August 20th!
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Say "hi" to Gail at the Night Market on August 10th!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkLet's talk Budget 2024! Community Economic Development Officer, Gail Scott, is attending the Night Market to connect with you!
Stop by the District of Sooke booth from 5 to 8 p.m. to say "hello," provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. Choose from: reusable tote bags, produce bags, water bottles and frisbees!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? No worries, we'll connect another time this summer!
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Connect with Carolyn Mushata, Director of Corporate Services, at the Night Market on August 3rd
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkLet's talk Budget 2024! Carolyn Mushata, Director of Corporate Services is attending the Night Market to connect with you!
Stop by the District of Sooke booth from 5 to 8 p.m. to say "hello," provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. Choose from: reusable tote bags, produce bags, water bottles and frisbees!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? No worries, we'll connect another time this summer!
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Let's Talk Budget 2024 at the Night Market on July 27th
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkMayor Tait is joining Communications Coordinator, Christina Moog, at the Sooke Region Museum Night Market to connect with you!
Let's keep the conversation going as we receive your input to inform the 2024 Budget! Stop by the District of Sooke booth from 5 to 8 p.m. to say "hello," provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. Choose from: tote bags, water bottles and reusable produce bags.
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? No worries, we'll connect another time this summer!
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Stop by the Sooke Country Market to Talk About Budget 2024 on Saturday, July 22nd!
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkLet's talk Budget 2024! Communications Coordinator, Christina Moog, is attending the Sooke Country Market beside Fire Station 1 on Otter Point Road to connect with you!
Stop by the District of Sooke booth on Saturday, July 22nd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to say "hello", provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. Choose from reusable tote bags, produce bags and water bottles!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? No worries, we'll connect another time this summer!
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Say "hello" to Christina at the Sooke Night Market on July 20th
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkLet's talk Budget 2024! Communications Coordinator, Christina Moog, is attending the Sooke Night Market at the Museum to connect with you!
Stop by the District of Sooke booth from 5 to 8 p.m. to say "hello," provide input on Budget 2024 and take away a gift of your choice. There are reusable tote bags, produce bags and water bottles!
Have a question or concern? Would you like to recognize one of our team members for going above and beyond? We're here to connect, listen and receive your input.
Our team will be popping up at various markets and parks throughout the summer. Can't make it? No worries, we'll connect another time this summer!
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2024 Budget Survey
Now closed.
Thank you to all who participated. The survey, open June 21 to August 20, 2023, is now closed. A What We Heard Report will be available before budget deliberations begin.
Key Dates
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November 20 2023
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November 16 2023
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August 20 2023
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August 17 2023
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August 16 2023
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August 15 2023
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August 10 2023
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August 03 2023
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July 27 2023
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July 22 2023
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July 20 2023
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July 19 2023
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July 06 2023
Budget Process
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Annual Budget Survey
Budget 2024 has finished this stageJune 21-August 20, 2023
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Budget What We Heard Report Available
Budget 2024 has finished this stage -
Preliminary Budget Development
Budget 2024 is currently at this stageFall 2023
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Service Level Review and Council Direction
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2024Fall 2023
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First Reading of District’s Budget at Regular Council Meeting
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2024Introduction
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Second Reading of District’s Budget at Regular Council Meeting
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2024Initial Council Discussion
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Third Reading of District’s Budget at Regular Council Meeting
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2024Final Council Discussion
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Community Budget Open House
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2024Informing community about budget and priorities for 2024
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Budget Adoption
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2024Province requires Tax Rate Byaw to be adopted by May 8th. The Tax Rate Bylaw will be presented to Council after Budget 2024 and the Five-Year Financial Plan have been updated/adopted.
Who's Listening
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Phone 2506421634 Email cmoog@sooke.ca