You're Invited: Budget 2025 Community Open House On Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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

Learn More and Share Your Input

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.
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