Islands Trust Council welcomes public comments on its proposed 2022/23 budget, through Sunday, February 6.
The proposed cash budget for 2022/23 of $9,283,000 assumes that the Islands Trust will maintain existing service levels, and will undertake the following projects:
- Official Community Plan update for the Hornby Island Local Trust Area
- Official Community Plan update for the Gambier Island Local Trust Area
- Housing project for the Denman Island Local Trust Area
- Ganges Village planning project, Coastal Douglas-fir zone and associated ecosystems protection project for the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area and a housing action program for the Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area
- Improvements to development application processing services
- Affordable housing model bylaws project for use by local trust committees and Bowen Island Municipality
- Groundwater science and mapping program focused in 2022/23 on Bowen Island and the Gambier Island Local Trust Area as well as select smaller islands in the Trust Area
- Heritage preservation overlay mapping and model bylaws project for use by local trust committees, Bowen Island Municipality and Islands Trust Conservancy
- Climate change indicators program, specific to the Trust Area
- Stewardship education program
- Administrative support to regional coordination groups program (e.g. Howe Sound Community Forum, Southern Gulf Islands Forum)
- Species-at-risk protection program through Islands Trust Conservancy
- Administration of trustee elections
In addition, funds are budgeted to allocate to other local trust committee projects that arise through the year. Trust Council will also continue to implement its Reconciliation Action Plan and has budgeted funds to improve communication services.
“The proposed 2022/23 budget supports work we have heard is important to communities such as land use policies and regulations that support affordable housing, increased knowledge of groundwater, and protection of species at risk,” said Peter Luckham, Islands Trust Council Chair. “We hope the public will participate in our budget consultation by completing our online survey, sending us an email, or presenting to Trust Council to let us know how they feel about what we’re proposing. For the first time, this year we are offering an online information session to explain the proposed budget and answer questions. Please join us January 27, 2002, at 7:00 p.m.”
Highlights of the proposed 2022/23 budget:
- 6.1% property tax increase: comprised of 4.88% increase to the existing local trust area tax base plus an additional 1.25% tax revenue expected from new construction and development in local trust areas
- $324,000 Bowen Island Municipal tax levy. This is a 4.0% ($12,497) increase comprised of 3.07% increase to be levied against the existing tax base plus an additional 0.95% tax levy expected from new development and construction in the Municipality.
- 2.1% ($190,000) increase in total planned spending for operations, projects, and capital purchases (excludes non-cash amortization expense)
- 8.1% ($768,000) of overall budget funded by approved grants
- $311,000 in application fee revenue (160% increase from 2021/22)
- $259,000 budgeted for transfers from Island Trust surplus and reserve funds (61% reduction from 2021/22)
- $75,500 Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area special tax levy (no change from 2021/22)
Islands Trust will hold an information session January 27, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. To receive a zoom invite please visit www.islandstrust.bc.ca/budget and complete the online form. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance.
The public is invited to complete a Budget 2022/23 online survey, send input via email, or present to Trust Council in March. The budget details and ways to comment, including a link to the online survey, are available at www.islandstrust.bc.ca/budget . Questions can be directed to budget@islandstrust.bc.ca or 250.405.5151. The budget survey is open from January 21 to February 6, 2022. Trust Council will review budget input, consider changes, and approve the final budget at its quarterly meeting, March 8-10, 2022.