The District of Sechelt has passed the 2024 budget, which means residents will see an increase of 7.71 per cent in their municipal taxes.
Council met yesterday to vote on the increase which would incorporate 4.71 per cent going to operations and the remaining three per cent going to capital reserves.
According to the district, if your property is valued at $994,039 then the property tax will see an increase of $218.
They add the total tax increase includes utility fees of 3.69 per cent or a $24 increase for sewers and a 12.5 per cent or $33 increase to solid waste for average residential properties.
Chief Financial Officer Dave Douglas says several factors contributed to the increase and they hope it will help for future planning.
“The current economic times with inflation make it challenging to continue providing the same service levels to residents without increasing the financial plan,” Douglas says. “We work hard at balancing the current financial pressures of our municipality while at the same time planning for the future.”
The district says to take the pressure off residents for critical infrastructure, and capital projects, they’ve secured grant funding which has already been considered in the 2024 budget.
“We’ve secured $9.2 million in grant funding, which is included in the $23.9 million capital budget,” the district says. “Much of the budget is focused on maintaining essential infrastructure and upgrading sewer collection and treatment.”
The district says they’re also spending money on playground improvements, RCMP building enhancements, courthouse roof repairs, municipal hall remediation, accessibility improvements, and wastewater systems.
