The District of Sechelt’s committee of the whole has approved a proposed budget for 2025, which would see a 5.62 per cent property tax increase — but with a caveat.
That proposed property tax hike is on top of the three per cent increase for capital contribution/infrastructure renewal, which has already been approved, bringing the total to increase to 8.62 per cent.
Coun. Adam Shepherd and Mayor John Henderson voted against the recommendation, with Shepherd explaining his decision was based on the fact he’d like to see staff try and find ways to bring the total tax increase to 7.62.
Coun. Alton Toth said the recommended tax increase is based on the proposed 5.62 per cent, but noted there would be nothing preventing Shepherd from asking for information from staff about where that one per cent saving could come from.
“Until we read bylaws and adopt bylaws, nothing is final,” said Toth. “And I guess one thing that we did sort of learn during COVID times, is that we thought we were done and then we reopened it because there were some existential circumstances. So, we could still have information come back.”
Coun. Darren Inkster also agreed he would support a motion from Shepherd asking staff to look at decreasing the proposed budget by one per cent.
“…But as has been argued by a number of council members, the work that was done and what that actually means. It's difficult to not support the 5.62, but I would second a motion from yourself to look at those savings once again, if possible,” said Inkster. “I doubt that, other than a couple of things that I would be in favour of, I'm not sure where that would go. So, I will second that if you introduce that.”
Inkster noted council has been receiving emails from residents claiming council was proposing a 17 pr cent property tax increase, something he firmly disputed.
Following his colleagues' comments, Shepherd brought a motion forward to the committee asking staff to look at ways to decrease the proposed tax increase by one per cent, which passed.
In an online handout about the budget, district staff outlined the need for a property tax increase, citing general inflation on products and services, increases to utility charges and fuel, increased demand for services, increases in infrastructure maintenance, funding for community safety concerns, new debt charges, contract increases, staff, library, contract increase for RCMP/integrated teams/victim services/guarding/crime stoppers, developing engineering master plans, (roads, sidewalks, drainage, sewer, etc.), asset condition assessments, (buildings, roads, sidewalks, underground infrastructure), funding for infrastructure replacement, and archaeology costs.
In total, general expense increases in 2025 over 2024 equalled $1,065,055 (7.77%).
2025 operating expense increases
New debt charge/Operations Centre: $150,079
Contract increases, staff, includes all FTE increases: $425,000
Contract increase: RCMP/integrated teams/victim services/guarding/Crime Stoppers: $236,740
Library: $18,500
Material and supplies: $45,200
Other: $189,536
If approved, these increases would mean an extra $187 on an average home in Sechelt valued at $994,000 or $18.70 per $100,000 of property assessment.
