The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) board approved its 2024-2028 financial plan but some directors were not in favour, due to a hefty 13.5-per cent increase taxpayers would face in 2024.
After a long debate, the budget was endorsed by the board at its regular meeting on Dec. 12. It was not unanimous as some directors wanted third reading and adoption deferred until some items in the budget can be reviewed further to help reduce the huge tax hike and ease the financial burden, particularly on residents, who are on a fix income.
The 2024 tax requisition will amount to $89,176,700, representing a 13.5 increase over the 2023 amount of $78,599,533.
Electoral Area A (Cedar, South Wellington, Yellowpoint, Cassidy) director Jessica Stanley reluctantly opposed the financial plan. She was uncomfortable raising her objections despite honouring the process and hard work RDN staff rendered to get the budget ready.
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“Why I am not going to support it at this moment in time is that I just can’t do it because my community simply can’t afford it,” said Stanley. “And with significant increases I just can’t support that level of increase to be pushed on to the community members and our taxpayers.”
Stanley added despite the numerous discussions and reviews the board and staff had on the budget, they have failed to garner any kind of tax relief.
Electoral Area C (Extension, Nanaimo Lakes, East Wellington, Pleasant Valley) director Lauren Melanson echoed Stanley’s sentiments.
“I know that the scales might balance differently in other areas where service levels are different,” Melanson said. “In my area, the scales just don’t balance and I am uncomfortable putting my name on something that will be such a burden to my community. I cannot put my name on it.”
CAO Douglas Holmes said the financial plan doesn’t have to be finalized until March 31 next year but needs to be adopted now.
“That would give staff the mandate to undertake delivery of services and the programs and the policies that the board has confirmed, with a couple of caveats, but would be able to do so starting January 1st,” said Holmes, who added that deferring the adoption of the budget would delay any work that needs a 12 month period to undertake.
Holmes said once the budget is adopted, they would like to know the other concerns in the budget the directors would like to debate further.
Electoral Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River) director Lehann Wallace said the problem is in the first 60 days of 2024 they don’t know what the projects are and what to prioritize. She suggested having a provisional budget and have more information come forward to help them make educated decisions.
“I feel, we’re being asked to kind of approve something a little bit blind,” said Wallace. “And that is a challenge because if we do anticipate we need to make changes, we need to be able to facilitate those changes in a collaborative and constructive matter instead of just being deconstructive and opposed to what we have in front of us.”
Although the financial plan has been adopted, amendments are permitted under the Local Government Act as the RDN is still waiting for information that can be incorporated into the budget such as the 2024 assessments from BC Assessment Authority, 2023 actual financial results for the RDN, final parcel counts and final external costs for Englishman River & Arrowsmith Service Joint Ventures and other jurisdictions such as the Northern Community Sports Field Agreement, Southern Community Recreation, and 911.
A view of what rate payers in District 69 can expect to pay in 2024:
• City of Parksville: Based on average residential value of $753,356 in 2023, property tax will go up by $53 from $822 to $875 in 2024.
• Town of Qualicum Beach: Based on average residential value of $960,113 in 2023, property tax will go up by $52 from $980 to $1,032 in 2024.
• Electoral Area E (Nanoose Bay): Based on average residential value of $1,302,858 in 2023, property tax will go up by $173 from $990 to to $1,162 in 2024
• Electoral Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington, Whiskey Creek, Meadowood): Based on average residential value of $761,627 in 2023, property tax will be go up by $62 from $765 to $827 in 2024.
• Electoral Area G (French Creek, San Pareil, Little Qualicum, Englishman River): Based on average residential value of $1,024,653 in 2023, property tax will be go up by $89 from $1,037 to $1,127 in 2024.
• Electoral Area H (Bowser, Qualicum Bay, Deep Bay): Based on average residential value of $920,365 in 2023, property tax will be go up by $95 from $857 to $952 in 2024.
Unlike a municipality, a single overall tax hike is not possible as residents pay taxes only for services they receive. The regional district provides 102 different services. Of those, 34 services that include wastewater and solid waste management, regional parks, regional growth management and transit.