CVRD Adopts 2017 Budget
Duncan, BC – The 2017 Budget for the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) was adopted by the Board of Directors at its December 14 meeting. The overall tax increase across the Regional District is six per cent. The actual increase varies by electoral areas and municipalities.
“Drafting budgets for regional districts is a complex process as the CVRD’s $85.1 million is made up of 177 individual budgets,” explains Board Chair Jon Lefebure. “These budgets include regional services paid by all residents, electoral area services such as planning, and service specific budgets like water and service utilities. This is different from municipal budgets where the costs are shared equally across the municipality.”
Some of the costs driving the tax increase include:
- New Cowichan Flood Management service starting in 2017
- Regional Recreation Master Plan
- Regional Solid Waste Management Plan Amendment
- Increase to Solid Waste capital reserves
- New emergency preparedness workbooks
- TransCanada Trail 10k expansion
- New electronic records clerk
- New procurement officer
- Chiller replacement at two recreation centres
- Continued renovations to Kerry Park Recreation Centre
- Capital improvements to Island Savings Centre
The CVRD continues to make excellent progress in achieving the objectives outlined in the Board’s Strategic Focus Areas including developing a comprehensive asset management program, preparing a climate change adaptation strategy, supporting enhanced watershed management planning and improving community information and engagement. The CVRD Strategic Focus Areas can be found at www.cvrd.bc.ca/aboutcvrd.
Complete budget information is available at www.cvrd.bc.ca/finance.