Frequently Asked Questions

What are service levels?

Service levels describe how often and to what standard a municipal service is delivered. They help set clear expectations—and show how much it costs to meet those expectations.

In Sooke, service levels are not yet fully defined across all areas. We are working to change that. By clearly identifying service levels, we can better plan for growth, manage budgets, and deliver services more consistently.

That’s why your input is so important.

We want to understand what services residents value most—and what level of service you expect. This helps ensure we’re aligning expectations with the resources needed to meet them.

Examples of service levels include:

• Roads – How quickly potholes are fixed or snow is cleared
• Parks – How often grass is mowed or garbage is picked up
• Fire Rescue – How many firefighters are on duty and how fast they respond
• Bylaw Services – Whether the focus is on education or proactive patrols

As Sooke grows, service demands increase too—but so do the costs.

Why does this matter?
Changing a service level—whether increasing or decreasing—has a big impact on the budget.

• Raising service levels (like adding more bylaw patrols or hiring RCMP officers) often requires more staff and equipment.
• Lowering service levels may reduce costs, but can affect safety, cleanliness, or response times.

We’re reviewing service levels to find the right balance between:

• What’s affordable
• What residents expect
• What our staff can deliver
• What we need for the future

Your feedback helps guide these decisions. Let us know what matters most to you.

Yes, when the population grows, so does the amount of tax revenue - but so do the costs.

More people means more demand for services like fire, police, parks, roads, and planning. It also means more wear and tear on infrastructure, and higher expectations for service delivery.

Sooke is transitioning from a small rural community to a more complete and sustainable town. To keep up, we need to invest in things like:

• Safer roads and sidewalks
• More emergency services (fire, police, emergency planning)
• Parks and outdoor recreation spaces for more residents to enjoy
• Planning services to support housing and development

The challenge is: growth doesn’t fully pay for growth. The taxes collected from new homes help - but they don’t cover the full cost of the additional services, infrastructure, and staffing needed to support a growing population.

That’s why the budget needs to grow too - often just to maintain current service levels, not to expand them. And that’s also why your feedback is important. It helps us understand what services matter most to residents and where to focus as we plan for the future. 

Like most workplaces, people are our greatest resource. We’re in the business of service delivery, and that means investing in the staff and elected officials who keep the community running - from emergency responders to planners, finance staff, and more.

Council members earn between $25,000 and $50,000 per year, depending on their role.

• They do not receive pensions or benefits.
• Some external board appointments (like the Capital Regional District) come with a small stipend (not paid by Sooke municipal taxes), but most committee work is unpaid or included in the base rate.
• Council pay is reviewed each term at a public meeting and compared to similar municipalities.

Sooke runs a lot of services with a relatively small team - most service areas are comprised of a team of one to five staff. Here’s a look at some departments:

• Parks and Environmental Services – 4 full-time labourers maintain 70+ hectares of green space and 40+ km of trails
• Bylaw Services – 2 officers provide education and enforcement seven days a week for a growing community
• Fire Rescue – 16 full-time firefighters provide 24/7 emergency response
• Legislative Services – 5 staff manage Council agendas and minutes, records, FOI requests, and elections
• Financial Services – 7 staff manage budgeting, payroll, taxes, financial reporting, and municipal hall reception
• IT (Information Technology) – A 2-person team supports phones, email, software, and cybersecurity
• GIS (Geographic Information Systems) – A team of 2 maintains the digital mapping used for planning and infrastructure
• Planning – 5.5 staff manage land use, zoning, and development review
• Building Services – 3.5 staff handle permits, inspections, and code compliance
• Engineering – 6 staff lead infrastructure planning, road work, and capital projects
• Several specialized roles (e.g. communications, emergency planning, economic development) are staffed by one person each

It’s a fair question - and one we hear often.

The District is always looking for ways to be more efficient. We’ve already made improvements, like offering more digital services, streamlining internal processes, and working with partners to share costs where we can.

But the reality is, most of the budget goes toward people and infrastructure—the staff who provide services and the facilities, roads, and systems we all rely on.

• Wages make up the largest part of the operating budget. These are based on union agreements and reflect the cost of hiring qualified staff to do important work.
• Emergency services depend on having enough trained responders available when residents need them.
• Parks, trails, and roads need regular maintenance to stay safe and prevent bigger, more expensive problems later on.

Cutting too deeply in these areas doesn’t just mean fewer services. It can lead to:

• Slower emergency response times
• Delayed repairs that cost more to fix later
• Less safety and cleanliness in public spaces
• Higher staff turnover and burnout, which brings extra costs for recruiting and training new employees

That’s why we work to find the right balance - keeping costs under control while making sure the community has the services, staff, and infrastructure it needs to function and grow.

When another level of government stops funding a service - but that service is still needed or expected - the cost often shifts to local taxpayers. This is called “downloading.”

A recent example is ECOMM 911 dispatch services. These were previously paid for by the Province, but starting in 2025, some South Island communities - including Sooke - now have to pay for them directly. That means we’ve taken on a new annual cost, without any new revenue to help cover it.

Unless new funding sources are found, or other services are reduced, these types of cost shifts can lead to higher property taxes.

Council is actively advocating for a portion of utility fees to help fund 911 dispatch services so that the cost doesn’t fall entirely on homeowners through property taxes.

Right now, about 85% of Sooke’s tax base comes from residential properties. That means most of the tax burden falls on homeowners.

To help reduce this pressure, the District is working to diversify its revenue sources by:

• Attracting more commercial and light industrial development to balance the tax base
• Applying for grants to help fund infrastructure projects and community programs
• Reviewing user fees - like permits, business licenses, and sewer charges - to make sure costs are shared fairly
• Advocating to the Province for updated funding models that reflect how modern municipalities operate

These efforts help ensure Sooke can deliver the services and infrastructure residents rely on—without putting all the financial responsibility on homeowners.

Development Cost Charges (DCCs) are fees the District collects from developers to help pay for infrastructure needed because of growth - things like roads, sewer systems, parks, and stormwater drainage.

DCCs are important because they help make sure growth pays for core aspects of growth.

• If DCCs are too low, existing residents end up covering the cost of new development through their property taxes.
• If DCCs are too high, the extra cost may be passed on to homebuyers, making housing more expensive.

Sooke is working to find the right balance - making sure developers contribute their fair share, while still supporting new housing that’s diverse and affordable for the community.

Each year, the District updates its Five-Year Financial Plan. This plan outlines how much money is expected to come in and how it will be spent.

It helps make sure the District can:

• Deliver day-to-day services
• Maintain and improve infrastructure (like roads, sewers, and facilities)
• Manage debt responsibly
• Make smart investments that reflect community priorities

Public input - like our annual budget survey - plays an important role. Your feedback helps guide the plan.

Council reviews the draft plan in public meetings, and it’s officially approved through a bylaw. The plan is updated every year to reflect changes in funding, costs, or priorities.