The Strathcona Regional District has approved a financial plan that includes a six per cent tax increase for Campbell River taxpayers this year.
Home owners will see a $19.30 or 6.4 per cent increase to their 2017 property taxes, based on the average assessed Campbell River home of $297,737.
Campbell River’s tax figures include an estimated $84.66 towards Strathcona Gardens, of which a portion is being set aside for a major renovation planned for the recreation complex in the coming years.
Campbell River residents will also pay a minimal $2.41 towards the region’s emergency program in 2017.
The regional district’s board of directors approved the financial plan at its Feb. 8 meeting, one month earlier than ever before.
“This is a first for our regional district,” said Board Chair John MacDonald.
“We have never adopted a new budget so quickly, which speaks volumes to the efforts of our finance team and all the staff who worked tirelessly to support the process. I would also like to thank directors for working together to advance a more efficient approval process. Now that we have the budget in place, we can get to work on all the projects earmarked for completion this fall.”
The regional district’s 2017-2021 financial plan includes the extension of the Quathiaski Cove sewer system on Quadra Island, a new booster pump system to improve water service in northern Area D, planning for redevelopment at Strathcona Gardens and ongoing participation in the Strathcona Community Health Network.
The regional district began the budget process last fall.
“That process is slow, tedious and demanding and requires cooperation across all departments within the organization,” said Dave Leitch, chief administrative officer of the regional district.
“We have an incredibly talented team of people, and between them they have produced a budget document that will see the regional district continue to thrive and provide the best, most cost-effective services and programs to the communities we serve.”
The budget also contains tax increases for the regional district’s other member municipalities and electoral areas, with the exception of Zeballos which will see a $0.33 or 1.9 per cent decrease, based on the average assessed home of $62,254.
Other taxes, based on average assessed homes, are as follows for 2017:
- Gold River - $24.50, a $0.74 or 3.1 per cent increase.
- Sayward - $32.61, a $4.02 or 14 per cent increase.
- Tahsis - $14.77, a $0.82 or 5.8 per cent increase.
- Area A (Nootka/Kyuquot) - $96.13, a $3.64 or 3.9 per cent increase.
- Area A (Sayward) - $496.44, a $15.71 or 3.3 per cent increase.
- Area B (Cortes Island) - $785.70, a $20.03 or 2.6 per cent increase.
- Area C (Quadra and Discovery Islands) - $404.42, a $32.33 or 8.7 per cent increase.
- Area D (Ocean Grove/Oyster River) - $1,707.21, a $59.72 or 3.6 per cent increase.
The entire 2017-2021 financial plan can be viewed on the Strathcona Regional District’s website at strathconard.ca