Budget 2026
The District of Sooke is committed to responsible financial planning that reflects the needs of our growing community. Your input helps guide how tax dollars are invested and ensures services align with community priorities.
Take the Budget Survey and Get Involved
Each year, we invite residents to share their feedback on District services and priorities through our annual budget survey. By participating, you’ll gain a better understanding of:
- How the municipal budget works - including opportunities and constraints;
- What projects and service updates are planned in the District’s five-year financial plan.
Join the Budget Conversation
The District’s participatory budget process includes two phases of public engagement:
- Phase 1: Budget Survey + Community Pop-Ups - June to August 2025
Find us at local events and summer markets. Take the survey online or connect with us in person to learn more and share your ideas. - Phase 2: Budget Open House - Winter 2026 (date to be confirmed)
The District of Sooke is committed to responsible financial planning that reflects the needs of our growing community. Your input helps guide how tax dollars are invested and ensures services align with community priorities.
Take the Budget Survey and Get Involved
Each year, we invite residents to share their feedback on District services and priorities through our annual budget survey. By participating, you’ll gain a better understanding of:
- How the municipal budget works - including opportunities and constraints;
- What projects and service updates are planned in the District’s five-year financial plan.
Join the Budget Conversation
The District’s participatory budget process includes two phases of public engagement:
- Phase 1: Budget Survey + Community Pop-Ups - June to August 2025
Find us at local events and summer markets. Take the survey online or connect with us in person to learn more and share your ideas. - Phase 2: Budget Open House - Winter 2026 (date to be confirmed)
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Phase One Engagement Concludes with Over 1,500 Participants
Share Phase One Engagement Concludes with Over 1,500 Participants on Facebook Share Phase One Engagement Concludes with Over 1,500 Participants on Twitter Share Phase One Engagement Concludes with Over 1,500 Participants on Linkedin Email Phase One Engagement Concludes with Over 1,500 Participants linkThe District of Sooke extends a heartfelt thank you to the more than 1,500 residents and visitors who engaged with us during Phase One of Budget 2026 engagement. Your participation - whether at a pop-up event or through the online survey has made this one of our most successful budget engagements to date.
Since June, staff and elected officials have connected with the community at 18 pop-up events, supported by an online survey that remained open throughout the summer. Together, these opportunities gave residents a chance to share their thoughts on priorities, trade-offs, and investments that matter most for the future of Sooke.
As the online survey closes, the next step of Phase One engagement is underway: 300 randomly selected households across Sooke will receive a print survey in the mail this week. If you are selected, please complete the survey and return it to Municipal Hall by September 24, 2025.
“Our community showed up in record numbers this year, and we are incredibly grateful,” said Christina Moog, Manager of Communications and Community Relations. “Your voice matters, and by participating, you’re helping shape how the District prioritizes investments and services.”
Results from Phase One will be published at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget and presented to Council at the October 20, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting.
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Phase One of Budget Engagement Wraps Up Next Week with Final Pop-Up Events
Share Phase One of Budget Engagement Wraps Up Next Week with Final Pop-Up Events on Facebook Share Phase One of Budget Engagement Wraps Up Next Week with Final Pop-Up Events on Twitter Share Phase One of Budget Engagement Wraps Up Next Week with Final Pop-Up Events on Linkedin Email Phase One of Budget Engagement Wraps Up Next Week with Final Pop-Up Events linkThe District of Sooke invites residents and visitors to take part in the final in-person pop-up events of Phase One 2026 Budget Engagement next week:
- Wednesday, August 20, 2025 – Connect with staff at the Town Centre kiosk by Evergreen Mall from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Thursday, August 21, 2025 – Visit the District booth at the Sooke Night Market from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
These markets will close out 18 pop-up events held since June, where staff and elected officials have connected with more than 1,300 residents and visitors to talk about budget priorities and hear what matters most to the community.
Missed us at the pop-ups? The online budget survey is available anytime at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget until August 24, 2025. As the online survey closes, the final step of Phase One engagement will begin: 300 randomly selected households will receive a print survey in the mail. If you are selected to receive the print survey, please complete it and return it to Municipal Hall by September 24, 2025.
The results of this engagement will be published online at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget and presented to Council at the October 20, 2025 Committee of the Whole meeting.
“Our target this year was to connect with 1,500 participants through Phase One budget engagement – aiming to increase participation by 25% over last year,” said Christina Moog, Manager of Communications and Community Relations. “Thanks to your active participation, it certainly looks like we will reach that target! Your voice matters. We are listening, and we are grateful for all of the conversations we’ve shared to ensure your voices are heard.”
Mayor of Sooke, Maja Tait added, “Council relies on community feedback to help guide our budget decisions. By sharing your thoughts - whether at a pop-up, through the online survey, or in the print survey - you are directly shaping how we prioritize investments in our community.”
Rose Liu, Director of Financial Services shared, “Engagement is an important first step in the budget process. We use this input to align our financial planning with community priorities while ensuring fiscal responsibility. As our What We Heard report lays the foundation, budget deliberations and service level discussions will follow in November. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far.”
Learn more about the District’s budget process and participate in the online survey until August 24, 2024:
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Let’s Talk Budget, Sooke - What Matters to You?
Share Let’s Talk Budget, Sooke - What Matters to You? on Facebook Share Let’s Talk Budget, Sooke - What Matters to You? on Twitter Share Let’s Talk Budget, Sooke - What Matters to You? on Linkedin Email Let’s Talk Budget, Sooke - What Matters to You? linkThe District of Sooke invites all residents to participate in the 2026 Budget Survey - now open at letstalk.sooke.ca/budget. Your input will directly inform how municipal tax dollars are invested and help ensure services reflect the needs and values of our growing community.
We’re planning for 2026 - and your input helps shape Sooke’s future. We're looking to hear:
- What services matter most to you?
- Where should we invest?
- How do we balance costs?
Get involved. Take the survey today.
“This is your chance to tell us what matters most to you,” says Mayor Maja Tait. “Whether it’s parks, roads, emergency services or something else, your input helps guide how we invest your tax dollars. By taking a few minutes to complete the survey, you’re helping shape the future of our community.”
The survey explores satisfaction with existing services, interest in service changes, and preferences for long-term investment areas such as infrastructure, emergency response, and parks. The feedback collected will help shape updates to the District’s five-year financial plan and will be summarized in a “What We Heard: Budget 2026” report shared with the community later this year.
“We know the pace of tax increases in recent years has been challenging for many residents,” adds Mayor Tait. “That’s why this conversation is so important. We’re looking at options to change that trajectory - whether it’s by diversifying revenue sources or taking a closer look at service levels. Your input will help guide those decisions.”
Residents can complete the survey online until August 24. It takes approximately 5 to 15 minutes and is open to all Sooke residents - homeowners, renters, and business owners alike.
Throughout the summer, District staff, alongside members of Council, will also be attending local markets and parks to connect with residents. These community conversations are a chance to learn more about the budget process, ask questions, and share your ideas in person.
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Budget Process
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Phase 1 Public Engagement: Annual Budget Survey
Budget 2026 has finished this stageWe're consulting with public from June 18, 2025 to August 24, 2025 through the annual budget survey and community pop-ups.
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Preliminary Budget Development
Budget 2026 is currently at this stageHow much does it cost to meeting community-requests service levels?
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Council Direction
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2026Adjusting service levels to line up with financial resources.
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Five Year Financial Plan Readings
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2026Public meetings, for information.
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Phase 2 Public Engagement: Community Open House
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2026Stay informed about Budget 2026 and learn more about District services and services levels, including planned activities for the year ahead based on budget decisions.
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Budget Adoption
this is an upcoming stage for Budget 2026Public meeting, for information.
Key Dates
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June 19 → August 24 2025
Budget Documents & Links
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Property Tax Calculator
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Your Priorities - engagement companion guide.pdf (86.8 KB) (pdf)
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2025-2029 Financial Plan Bylaw No.922 2025 (275 KB) (pdf)
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2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan (220 KB) (pdf)
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Budget 2025 Open House Storyboards (9.65 MB) (pdf)
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What We Heard 2025 Report (3.01 MB) (pdf)
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Budget 2025 What We Heard Presentation Slides - presented November 2024 (3.65 MB) (pdf)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are service levels, and why they matter?
- If Sooke’s population is growing, doesn’t that mean more tax revenue? Why does the budget still need to increase?
- Why does so much of the District’s budget go toward wages?
- What do Council members get paid?
- How many people work for the District, and what do they do?
- Can’t we just cut costs to keep taxes low?
- What happens when the Province or another government or agency stops paying for something the District now has to fund?
- What is Sooke doing to reduce its reliance on residential property taxes?
- What are Development Cost Charges (DCCs), and why do they matter?
- How are financial decisions made over the Five-Year Financial Plan?