November will see the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) directors debating utility rates and the projects that will make up its 2025 budget. That makes this month an ideal time to ask your local elected officials questions about current and proposed regional service levels. Getting questions in now means they can be considered as next year’s spending plans and the levies that will fund them are solidified.
You can do that now by posting on the SCRD’s 2025 budget “Let’s Talk” page, which also details the timeline for the financial plan rollout and has backup reports and documents available for review.
The SCRD is looking adjust its budget communication plan this year, according to acting Chief Administrative Officer Tina Perreault. Responding to concerned voiced by Area B director Justine Gabias at an Oct 24 committee meeting about sparse 2024’s financial plan on-line engagement attendance, Perreault referenced a “new approach” being contemplated by staff. While exact arrangements were not discussed, she pitched the concept of area directors meeting with community groups. At those yet-to-be-scheduled gatherings (with their dates to be included on the “Let’s Talk” page), she said staff could also attend to answer questions and “to engage people on what they want to hear about” focusing on specific projects, rather than the “abstract” of the overall budget details.
Utility and other fee change discussions
Of interest to those on regional water and or wastewater systems will be a special finance committee meeting is being arranged for Nov. 21. At that, water and wastewater rates, and other regional fees and charge levels for the coming year are to be reviewed. The agenda for that meeting is slated to be posted on scrd.ca on Nov. 15, and will contain reports analyzing where regional fees are, and where they need to be to maintain, and if agreed, expand or improve services in the new year.
According to an Oct. 24 finance committee agenda report, “several functions have deficits as of Q3 2024 variance reporting” with the Gibsons and District Fire and Parks services cited as examples, If a service finishes the year in a deficit position, and that overspending will need to be covered by 2025 funding.
The Nov. 28 or Dec.12 board meeting will see utility and rate change bylaw amendments for 2025 introduced, and those are to be adopted in advance of the SCRD recessing for a winter holiday season office closure, which stretches from before Christmas until after New Year’s Day.
What’s in Round 1 and 2 budget debates?
A number of decisions about next year’s financial plan that were recommended by committee on Oct. 24 will be before the board on Nov. 14, and if endorsed will be considered as Round 1 approvals. The finance committee is to engage in further Round 1 discussion on Nov. 25 and 26.
At those sessions, along with staff proposed initiatives, community partners, including the Pender Harbour Health Centre, the Gibsons Public Library, and two local Search and Rescue organizations are anticipated to make their 2025 funding asks. All of those requests, according to SCRD staff, reflect changes in the scope or funding level from that received from the regional government in past years.
Round 2 budget debate is scheduled for Jan. 23 and 24, 2025. The second debate session allows for recommendations on budget items where full details weren’t available at Round 1, where directors asked for more information from staff or where updated information is available. In past years at Round 2, directors have also requested re-visiting some Round 1 decisions, often based on the financial impacts on taxpayers when the full budget picture comes into better focus.
The updated financial plan bylaw anticipated to be adopted by Feb.13, two weeks earlier than budget finalization in the previous year. All regular SCRD committee and board meeting are open to the public, and attendance either in person at their Field Road office or virtually using the links available on scrd.ca is welcomed.
