2021 Draft Budget

Updated March 16th:

Council adopted the 2021-2025 Financial Plan Bylaw.

Updated February 24th:

On February 23^rd, Council gave second and third reading to the amended five (5) year financial plan which includes the 2021 budget.

Throughout the budget community engagement period, concerned citizens emphasized to Council that traffic safety must be a priority for Lake Country. Council considered the feedback provided through Let’s Talk – Lake Country as well as the virtual town hall and agreed it was important to support the 2019 Traffic Calming and Road Safety Policy program with $20,000 in funding for 2021. The funding will provide a process for dealing with traffic calming and road safety requests from the community. Dollars will also be used to enhance the safety of problematic areas identified in the community. Council also agreed to fund the Community Engagement Grant program in the amount of $15,000 in 2021. The grant funding is available to not-for-profit and registered community groups that wish to undertake community projects. The organization receiving the grant funding must also provide private funding or in-kind services to contribute towards their community-benefit project. Both programs will be funded from reserves in 2021 allowing the community to benefit from the programs without incurring a tax increase.

Lake Country Health Planning Society applied for funding after Council initially reviewed the budget in January. Their funding application in the amount of $21,840 was approved based on the assumption that 2021 will be the final year funding will be required from the District. The funding will come from general surplus to avoid a one‐time tax increase for the additional expenditure.

2021 property tax increase of 3.25% will fund:

Based on the average property value in Lake Country assessed at $760,000, the increase will result in a rise of approximately $68.00 per property. Council will give final adoption to the five (5) year financial plan on March 16^th. For more information and details on the 2021 budget visit Let’s Talk – Lake Country.

Watch the full council meeting on YouTube

Updated January 14th:

On January 12, 2021 Council received a presentation on the five (5) year financial plan including the 2021 budget.

Council was also asked to consider the level of service provided by bylaw enforcement with various options proposed to enhance the service and to address community needs. In addition to supporting an extra bylaw officer and part-time bylaw administrative support funded for two (2) years from COVID-19 Provincial grant dollars, Council reviewed the draft budget line by line, asking staff for reasoning on proposed expenditures. Council passed a motion to support a 3.25% property tax increase in 2021. The breakdown is as follows:

For each 0.01% added to the budget - the average home will pay an additional $0.21 towards municipal services.

Parks and Recreation Master Plan implementation – What will the 1.25% increase go towards?

To renew and prolong the use of aging facilities within the District, several maintenance projects are required in 2021. Without the 1.25% increase the implementation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan will continue to be underfunded. It is similar to the home you live in - each year the home requires various maintenance and periodic renewal projects done, to ensure your home remains safe and runs efficiently. The same applies to District facilities. The District is responsible for maintaining several public facilities throughout the community including:

• Winfield arena and curling rink
• Seniors Activity Centre
• Food bank
• Integrated Services Building (used by Lake Country Health Planning and Interior Health)
• RCMP building
• Fire Administration and fire halls in Winfield, Oyama and Carr’s Landing
• Lake Country Museum (including the annex and café spaces)
• Municipal Hall (including the space used by Lake Country branch of Okanagan Regional Library)
• Camp Road shop
• Beasley Park including playground, field lighting and the community centre
• Swalwell Park including the water park, skate park and washroom
• Washroom and playground facilities at Coral Beach, Shoreline Park, Jack Seaton Park, Pioneer Park and Okanagan Centre Park
• Many other high use parks and trails outdoor amenities (e.g. Pelmewash Parkway multi-use pathway, Okanagan Rail Trail, Okanagan Centre greenspace trail, Oyama boat launch, dog parks etc.)

Renewal/maintenance initiatives that require immediate attention include - roofs, siding, furnaces, plumbing upgrades, electrical upgrades, doors and windows, refrigeration systems, stairs, railings and decking.

What makes up the 1.19% CPI?

Consumer Price Index also known as CPI, is used to measure the average cost change over time in the prices paid for goods and services; and accounts for inflation.

Why does Lake Country require additional RCMP officers?

In 2020 Council approved the cost of acquiring five (5) additional RCMP officers. Half the cost of the new officers was incorporated into the 2020 budget. Recently two new officers have been assigned to the Lake Country detachment. The second half of the cost (0.81%) will be a consideration for the 2021 budget. With the additional five (5) officers, once onboarded, the Lake Country detachment will eventually be able to provide 24-hour a day policing.

How are grant dollars being used in 2021?

Grants offered to municipalities throughout the year, must be applied for and if awarded are used to assist with offsetting costs for the specific projects they are related to. Grants include the Gas Tax which assists the District with road expenditures. Provincial and Federal grants awarded are used for specific projects, such as the Woodsdale Waterfront Park Site & Cultural Centre, which will be 73% funded by grants. $2.947 Million from the Province was transferred to the District to assist with revenue shortfalls due to COVID-19 impacts and will help cover the cost of infrastructure and operational items that would have required a higher tax increase overall.

What if there is an emergency – how are the cost covered?

Municipalities typically have three (3) months operating expenses in a reserve in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster. Currently the District has $3.1 Million in a reserve to cover unexpected expenses. The goal is to eventually increase this reserve to at least $3.6 Million.