Budget 2025

Join us for the second phase of public engagement on the District of Sooke’s 2025 Budget. This open house provides an opportunity to review the draft budget, ask questions, and share your thoughts as the financial plan is refined ahead of final adoption. Light refreshments will be provided.

The District’s budget engagement is a two-phase process built on a foundation of resident input. Phase one began in June 2024—coinciding with the time property taxes are paid—and continued through the summer. This approach enabled members of Council and staff to connect with residents during evenings and weekends at local markets and parks. More than 1,200 residents participated in this first phase, helping shape the priorities reflected in the draft plan. The results of this engagement are available in the What We Heard Budget 2025 Report, which was presented at a public meeting in November.

Your input is once again welcome as we work together to finalize Budget 2025.

About the Budget

After public meeting deliberations, Council directed staff to prepare an updated Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw that reflects a proposed municipal service tax increase of $19.68 per month ($236.22 per year) for the average residential property, based on a home value of $770,284 (BC Assessment, 2025).

In short, the investments being made include:

• Transition to 24/7 Policing Services;
• Continued 24/7 Fire Rescue Services;
• Advancement in our transportation network, including road design and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure; and
• A standing 2% annual allocation for asset management.

The 2025 budget also addresses non-discretionary cost increases such as the District’s road maintenance contract, wages agreements, rising equipment expenses, and increasing insurance premiums.

Staffing changes have been limited and targeted. Additions include support for policing and fire services to deliver on 24/7 coverage, a full-time bylaw officer (previously funded through COVID-19 relief reserves), and an Executive Office Coordinator to support the Administrative Services Division to expand organizational capacity alongside our growing community. Further staffing considerations for 2025 budget include supplemental hours for parks larbourers, clerks (reception) and financial accountant to ensure continuity of services.

Additionally, this year’s budget reflects a new 2.35% cost—formerly funded by the Province—for E-COMM dispatch services, which supports emergency response communications across the region.

Breakdown of the Proposed Increase:

• Community Safety (excludes ECOMM): $684,196 total or 5.55%
• ECOMM (New cost previously borne by province for 911 answering services, prorated for April to December): $290,196 total or 2.35%
• Asset Management Reserve Contribution: $246,487 or 2%
• Non-discretionary Changes (contractual obligations, insurance, etc.): $450,275 or 3.65%
• Discretionary Expense Changes: $213,286 or 1.73%

The 2% investment in asset management is a foundational component of long-term financial health. It supports the upkeep and renewal of critical infrastructure—like roads and underground utilities—helping to prevent costly emergency repairs and service disruptions in the future. This proactive approach ensures that infrastructure remains safe, reliable, and cost-effective over time.

Throughout the budget process, Council carefully considered alternative approaches, including a greater reliance on reserves. However, using reserves to offset tax increases has trade-offs—particularly the risk of reducing the District’s ability to respond to unforeseen needs, fund future capital projects, or remain resilient in the face of emergencies. By focusing on long-term stability, the current approach provides a more sustainable path forward.

The draft five-year financial plan also shows tax rates stabilizing in outer years, acknowledging that residents have experienced several years of more significant percentage increases. Since 2012, the average annual increase has been 4.3%.

The District remains committed to transparency and helping residents understand how their tax dollars are used. While percentage increases often make headlines, they can be misleading without context. For example, a 1% residential tax increase in Sooke generates approximately $123,000, whereas in a larger municipality like Saanich, the same 1% results in about $1.7 million. This comparison underscores the importance of local context in municipal budgeting. More specifically, the cumulative total for Sooke's tax increase reflects $1.8 million in revenue.

Documents

• 2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw, given first (introduction), second (initial discussion) and third (discussion) readings on Monday, March 24, 2025
• 2025-2029 Five-Year Consolidated Financial Plan
• 2025-2029 Five-Year Capital Plan

Learn More and Share Your Input

• Open House: Wednesday, April 2 | 2:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Location: Sooke Municipal Hall, Council Chambers – 2205 Otter Point Road
• Email: budget@sooke.ca
• Online: letstalk.sooke.ca/budget
• Background Information and additional resources:
  • Thursday, March 13, 2025 News Release: Council Directs Staff to Update Five-Year Financial Plan with 2025 Tax Increase of $19.68 per Month (15.29%) for Average Home(External link)
  • Friday, March 7, 2025 News Release: Budget Deliberations Continue on March 10, 2025(External link)
  • Friday, January 17, 2025 News Release: Council Budget Discussions Begin Monday, January 20(External link)
  • Friday, June 28, 2024 News Release: Community Connections: Budget Pop-up Events Offer Residents Direct Engagement Opportunities(External link)
  • Thursday, June 20, 2024 News Release: Community Engagement: Shape Sooke’s Future with Your Input on the 2025 Budget(External link)

Let’s continue to build Budget 2025 together. Comments on the budget are welcome anytime by email at budget@sooke.ca.

It is currently anticipated that the budget will return to Council for consideration of adoption at the April 7, 2025 Regular Council meeting.

Related:

• CRD Board has approved its 2025 budget, which includes an impact on the average Sooke residential property of $31.98.

A budget deliberation meeting will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., where Council will review the proposed 2025-2029 Financial Plan and consider options for the 2025 budget.

Following Council’s direction from previous budget discussions, staff have developed four budget scenarios, reflecting tax increases ranging from 9.99% to 15.29%. These scenarios aim to balance fiscal responsibility, service commitments, and long-term financial sustainability while addressing current economic realities.

Budget Adjustments and Key Cost Drivers

At the January 20, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting, staff presented a budget with a 16.04% tax increase. Since then, operational efficiencies and expenditure reviews have resulted in approximately $128,000 in cost reductions, bringing the proposed tax increase to 15.29%.

Several key factors are contributing to budget pressures, including:

• RCMP policing costs: 5.55% of the tax increase.
• E-Comm service fees (a new provincial cost): 2.35%.
• Asset management investments: 2%.
• General District operating cost increases: 5.38%.

What This Means for Sooke Residents

The proposed 15.29% increase equates to an estimated additional $19.68 per month ($236.22 per year) for the average single-family homeowner, based on a BC Assessment home value of $770,284. These funds directly support essential services such as fire rescue, policing, road maintenance, parks, and infrastructure.

Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Planning

Council will be considering the trade-offs between tax relief and long-term financial stability. Key considerations include:

• How reserve funds should be used to mitigate tax impacts while maintaining financial security.
• Ensuring core services—such as fire rescue and police staffing—remain adequately funded.
• Managing future infrastructure needs while keeping costs affordable for residents.

Next Steps in the Budget Process

The March 10 meeting will help shape the final 2025-2029 Financial Plan. Key dates in the budget process include:

• March 24, 2025 – First, Second, and Third Readings of the 2025 Budget (anticipated date).
• April 2, 2025 – Community Budget Open House to provide further information on 2025 priorities.
• April 7, 2025 – Final Budget Adoption (anticipated date).

Residents are encouraged to follow the discussions. The March 10 meeting will be livestreamed on the District’s YouTube channel(External link) and open to the public at Council Chambers(External link).

Resources:

• Summary of 2025 Operating Budget Changes(External link)
• 2025-2029 Consolidated Financial Plan(External link)
• 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan(External link)
• Slide deck for March 10, 2025 Meeting(External link)
• RCMP Budget Presentation for March 10, 2025 meeting(External link)

The District of Sooke’s annual budget process for 2025 begins with a public survey and in-person outreach events, aimed at gathering community feedback to inform budget development. This year, engagement efforts saw a notable increase in participation, with a 40% rise in online survey responses and a total of 329 surveys collected—a 64.5% increase over the previous year.

The survey invited residents to share satisfaction levels, rank service priorities, suggest changes in service areas, and provide input on transportation and economic growth. Approximately 900 residents participated in pop-up events held at local parks and markets, using interactive tools to allocate “tax dollars” to services, sparking valuable discussions with Council and staff.

The What We Heard Report summarizes our approach to engagement, including who we heard from, how we listened, and what we learned. This staff report offers a high-level summary of the engagement, with greater details including verbatim comments, included in the attachment.

Key Findings

1. High Satisfaction Levels: Fire Rescue, Parks, Communications, and Community Engagement, as well as Policing, received the highest satisfaction ratings from respondents.

2. Areas of Concern: Respondents expressed dissatisfaction with local streets, community planning, business attraction and retention, commercial development, and bylaw education. However, overall satisfaction levels across services were positive.

3. Top Service Priorities for Increased Investment:

   • Local streets and roadways
   • Community planning and development
   • Business attraction, retention, and commercial development
   • Parks, outdoor spaces, sidewalks, and trails

4. Economic Development Priorities: Respondents highlighted healthcare and medical services as priority sectors for development, emphasizing the need for improved transportation infrastructure to support economic growth and high-paying job creation.

5. Transportation and Traffic Solutions: In response to congestion on Highway 14, residents prioritized the creation of an alternate route, with additional support for local road improvements and expanded transit options. Frequency and hours of transit service were noted as the main barriers to increased usage.

6. Referendum Support: High levels of support were noted for borrowing funds to enhance sidewalks and for the Throup Road Connector and Phillips Road Corridor. While there was less emphasis on land acquisition for parks, respondents still viewed it as a valuable investment.

What's next?

1. Service level overview (anticipated date: November 18, 2024 Regular Council meeting)
2. Preliminary budget introduction (anticipated date: December 16, 2024 Regular Council meeting)
3. Council direction (anticipated date: January 2025)
4. First Reading (introduction) of District's 2025 Budget at a Regular Council Meeting (anticipated date: February 2025)
5. Second Reading (initial discussion) of District's 2025 Budget at Regular Council Meeting (anticipated date: February 2025)
6. Third Reading (final discussion) of District's 2025 Budget at Regular Council Meeting (anticipated date: February 2025)
7. Community Budget Open House to inform on 2025 priorities (anticipated date: February or March 2025)
8. Budget Adoption (anticipated date: March 2025)

Resources:

• What We Heard 2025 Report
• Presentation Slide Deck

The District of Sooke invites all residents to participate in the Annual Budget Survey to help guide the allocation of tax dollars towards services that matter most to the community. This survey, now open, aims to gather valuable insights into local priorities and preferences, shaping the upcoming budget for 2025.

"This survey is a critical opportunity for every resident to have a direct impact on how their tax dollars are invested," said Mayor Maja Tait. "Your feedback will inform our decisions as we plan for our community’s needs and build a more sustainable future for Sooke."

The survey covers several key areas including current services, service expansion priorities, economic opportunities, and transportation infrastructure. Residents are encouraged to complete the survey, which typically takes between 5 to 15 minutes to finish.

To enhance engagement, the District will host a series of community pop-up events throughout the summer. These events provide residents with additional opportunities to learn about the budget process, ask questions, and share their feedback in person. The schedule for these events is as follows:

• Thursday, June 27, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum
• Thursday, July 4, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum
• Tuesday, July 9, 1pm-2:30pm: Broomhill Playground
• Thursday, July 11, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum
• Saturday, July 13, 10am-2pm: Sooke Country Market
• Wednesday, July 17, 10am-11:30am: Whiffin Spit
• Thursday, July 18, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum
• Thursday, July 25, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum
• Wednesday, August 7, 10am-11:30am: Broomhill Playground
• Thursday, August 8, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum
• Saturday, August 10, 10am-2pm: Sooke Country Market
• Thursday, August 17, 5-8pm: Night Market at Sooke Region Museum

"We encourage all residents, whether property owners or renters, to participate and ensure their voices are heard," added Mayor Tait. "Your input, combined with our strategic planning documents, will shape the 'What We Heard: Budget 2025' report, which will be shared with the public this November."

To participate in the survey and for more information on the budget process, residents are encouraged to visit letstalk.sooke.ca/budget.