______________________________________________________________________

March 10th Committee of the Whole

Staff presented the first draft of the Public Protection (Police, Fire Department, Building Inspection) and Planning budgets for 2010 through 2014 for the Committee to review and discuss.  These budgets show projected expenditures for these services.  The cover memo explains that this first draft was prepared on the same basis as prior years with no significant changes to operations proposed for any of these departments. The Planning budget has significant project expenditures (for review of the Official Community Plan, and development of a comprehensive pedestrian and traffic safety study in 2010) that have an increased for 2010. 

February 24th Committee of the Whole

Staff presented the first draft of municipal utility (garbage, water, and sewer) service's budgets for 2010 through 2014 for the Committee to review and discuss.  These budgets show both revenue and expenditures (operating and capital) for these services, along with the net surplus or shortfall in projected net revenue for the next five years.  The cover memo explains that this first draft was prepared on the basis of no overall rate increases in 2010 or subsequent years, but due to a net shorfall of revenue in the water fund, this will be harder to maintain there than in the garbage and sewer services.  The memo says that Council might want to consider transfering $15 from the sewer parcel tax to the water parcel tax starting in 2011 to help deal with this.  Holding fees steady for all three services is dependent upon resource utilization remaining steady (or declining in the case of the water service) and no significant increases to fees charged by the Regional District for operation of the landfill, supply of water and treatment of sewage. 

 February 10th Committee of the Whole

Staff presented two reports to the Committee to start its work on the upcoming Financial Plan in earnest.  The first memo explained the requirement (of the Community Charter) that we include Revenue Objectives & Policies as part of our annual five-year Financial Plan.  The memo went on to review the Objectives & Policies adopted in the last Plan.  Arising from discussion, the Committee passed a motion to delete Section 2 of Revenue Policies.  In 2009 this Section said that there would be a 4% general tax increases to all classes of property from 2009 to 2013.  If Council adopts the Committee's recommendation, this would free up Council to have different general tax increases in different years, and to vary the increases by property class.

Next, the Committee was provided with worksheets updating the balance of, and committments made to date from the Town's Federal Gas Taxes (Community Works) Funds.  These come to Canadian municipalities from the Federal Government, and must be spent on "green" capital expenditures and on capacity building studies.  The Committee passed a motion to increase the funding allocation for energy efficiency upgrades of Town buildings to $250,000 including a lighting upgrade to the firehall and a study of geothermal heating at the Recreation Centre this year.

Finally, the Committee was presented with a first draft of a Capital Plan for 2010 to 2014.  Capital expenditures form roughly 25% of our total expenditures, so they have a significant effect on the revenue needed over the next five years.  The Committee passed a motion to advance the budget for constructing a (yet to be selected or designed) bike lanes from 2013 in the Financial Plan to 2011.

February 3rd Regular Council Meeting

Council received and adopted its Strategic Plan for 2010 to 2014.  This is a high level document that lays out Council's three strategic priorities over the next five years: 

• Sustainable Infrastructure (related goals:  improving road & sidewalk condition, maintaining utilities infrastructure, and assessing future infrastructure needs)
• Sustainability and Livability (related goals:  increase environmental responsibility, increase recreational opportunities, increase long-range planning activities, become a more inclusive community, increase local economic development opportunities, and increase health services)
• Good Governance (related goals: improve/maintain high level of customer service, impvoe communication with public, enable and motivate staff, and support regional initiatives).

These Strategies and Goals will be reflected in the upcoming Financial Plan.

January 27th Committee of the Whole

Staff presented two reports to Council's Committee of the Whole (so called because all Council members sit on this Committee).  The first was a report on the initial (Completed) Assessment Roll for 2010.  The next was a report reviewing the 2009 - 2013 Financial Plan (adopted last year).  At its next meeting (February 10th) the Committee will discuss its Revenue Objectives & Policies that determine what rate increases will be built into its new Financial Plan.  Both of the staff reports at this meeting are now listed on the related items (items 01 & 02 below).  They were received and discussed by the Committee, but no motions arose from the discussion.  Had any motions related to the Financial Plan been adopted by the Committee, they would be subject to ratification at a Regular Council Meeting.

Background

Municipalities in BC are governed by the Community Charter, which requires them to adopt annually by bylaw, five-year Financial Plans.  This must be done before a property tax bylaw is adopted.  The deadline for both is May 14th of each year.  Until adoption of a new Financial Plan bylaw, the bylaw from the previous year provides the legal authority for expenditures.

Related Documents on our website:

First Draft of Public Protection and Planning Budgets
First Draft of Utility Budgets
First Draft of Capital Plan
Schedules on Federal Gas Tax Funds
Report on Revenue Objectives & Policies
Council's Strategic Plan 2010 to 2014
Report on Completed 2010 Tax Roll
Review of 2009 to 2013 Financial Plan
Financial Plan 2009 to 2013 Detail