Council Passes 2024 Budget

The District of Sechelt Council passed the 2024 budget on May 8, 2024. The budget includes a 7.71% property tax increase with 4.71% of this going to operations and the remaining 3% to capital reserves. For the average residential property valued at $994,039 that will be a property tax increase of $218. The total tax increase includes 3.69%, or $24 increase to sewer user fees and a 12.5%, or $33 increase to solid waste fees for the average residential property.

"All of us on Council have worked hard to make sure that while we do face a tax increase, it is the lowest of the municipalities on the lower Sunshine Coast,” says Alton Toth, Sechelt Councillor. “It is not just the District of Sechelt that is feeling the effects of inflation. We recognize that residents, particularly senior and lower income residents, are especially affected by these uncertain financial times.”

The District of Sechelt has secured $9.2 million in grant funding which is included in the $23.9 million capital budget. Much of the budget is focused on maintaining essential infrastructure and upgrading sewer collection and treatment. A few of the new expenses for 2024 are:

• Four full-time staff: Two parks maintenance, one public works operator and one engineering technologist
• Playground improvements
• RCMP building enhancements
• Courthouse roof replacement
• Municipal Hall remediation
• Accessibility improvements
• Wastewater systems: one lift station rebuild, outfall inspection and ballast replacement

"The current economic times with inflation make it challenging to continue providing the same service levels to residents without increasing the financial plan," says David Douglas, Chief Financial Officer. "We work hard at balancing the current financial pressures of our municipality while at the same time planning for the future."

Read about this year's budget process, view the documents and see some of the feedback - visit the Your Say Sechelt Budget 2024 page.