Victoria, BC– The Capital Regional District (CRD) Board has approved a preliminary Financial Plan for 2019 at the September 5th Committee of the Whole and Board meetings. The Financial Plan incorporates the delivery of work and execution of priorities and initiatives that were identified in the fourth year of a planning cycle and as part of the strategic and corporate plans for the CRD. It is in line with inflation for our region with the exception of the $5 million increase to municipalities for the construction and implementation of the Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project. Approval of the preliminary Financial Plan enables the organization to effectively deploy resources needed to maintain core service delivery and advance capital projects required to support development and population growth across the region.
Various external forces influence the preliminary Financial Plan including inflation, interest rate changes and utility costs, such as electricity, natural gas, and fuel. Impacts on CRD activity include the need for new capital investment, infrastructure maintenance and upgrades, and a continued focus on maintaining service levels while advancing Board priorities.
The CRD, Capital Regional Hospital District (CRHD) and Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC) financial plans combine to form a consolidated budget. The proposed consolidated operating portion ($309 million) will pay for a range of regional services and sub-services to over 392,000 people in the region. In addition, the proposed consolidated capital portion targets $381 million in projects. The preliminary Financial Plan is unique for each municipality, electoral area and First Nation as each participates in a different set of services. An overview is available in the attached 2019 Consolidated Budget Overview.
The operating portion of the preliminary CRD Financial Plan pays for the daily business of the CRD, including labour, supplies, programs, services and repayment of debt for major projects. For 2019, the operating portion includes revenues and expenditures of $260.6 million, an increase of $12.1 million or 4.9% compared to the 2018 CRD Financial Plan.
For 2019, revenue from sale of services comprises nearly half (48%) of the CRD’s operating revenue, while requisition makes up approximately 26%. The balance is funded from a variety of other revenue sources including grants.
This increase reflects the scope and scale required for working within complex regulatory and legislative frameworks while managing changes related to environmental monitoring; reporting related to liquid and solid waste management; discharges and emissions; operations and site safety; cyber security; and internal performance measures. It is also driven by Board priorities and community needs identified in corporate and service planning.
The capital portion of the preliminary CRD Financial Plan pays for new and enhanced infrastructure. This includes acquisition of buildings and facilities, as well as construction and upgrades to assets. For 2019, the capital portion includes revenues and expenditures of $309.9 million, an increase of $51.2 million (20%) compared to the 2018 CRD Financial Plan. The Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project accounts for $242 million (78%) of capital expenditures as construction activities continue. A list of significant capital projects is available in the attached CRD Major Capital Projects.
Highlights include:
- The Core Area Wastewater Treatment Project will see significant construction activities in 2019 with all components under construction. This includes the new treatment plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt, the Residuals Treatment Facility at the Hartland Landfill, and upgrades to the conveyance system. The project will benefit from considerable contributions totaling more than $450 million from the federal and provincial governments. The CRD continues to support the implementation of core area wastewater treatment by increasing the requisition to $30 million ($5 million increase) for participating municipalities. This follows a 2013 Board decision to budget for incremental increases to reduce overall interest expense, reduce ongoing annual debt servicing costs and provide sufficient funding for capital and operating costs.
- Renewing and improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure for the region’s urban centres and local service areas continues in 2019.
- Managing natural areas and ensuring access to parks and trails will remain a priority as the CRD continues development of the E&N Rail Trail, a new cycling and pedestrian trail largely within the E&N rail corridor. The CRD Board has agreed to borrow up to $6.1 million to complete an additional 2.3 km of trail by 2019, which will provide residents and visitors with a 13.8 km continuous route from Westshore communities to Victoria. The CRD also continues to collect about $20 per average residential household assessment resulting in $3.7 million annually for park land acquisition.
- Construction of a unified 911 call answer and police dispatch centre is now underway and borrowing costs for construction will be funded from existing revenue streams. When complete, the centre will meet post-disaster standards and accommodate consolidated services that benefit residents across the region while maintaining existing revenue requirements.
- Thanks to a UBCM Strategic Priorities Fund grant, an expansion of SEAPARC in 2019 will add 5,200 square feet of fitness and multi-purpose space to the leisure complex in Sooke. A concept design has been selected and project construction is expected to start in February 2019 and be complete by December 2019.
- An additional investment of $1.3 million has been allocated for the Southern Gulf Islands Small Craft Harbours Facility and $1.2 million for the South Galiano Fire Hall going to referendum this fall.
- Implementation of the Regional Housing First Program, with planned development of 2,000 units of affordable housing that will be under construction or complete by December 31, 2021.
- The CRHD Financial Plan includes $46.5 million for continued development of health-related infrastructure, including The Summit at Quadra Village, a 320 unit complex residential and dementia care facility. Construction of the facility is currently underway and is expected to be complete in 2019.
- A new major project planned for CRHD in 2019 is the Westshore Health Centre. The total estimated cost for this project is $3.4 million.
- Additional possible projects for CRHD in 2019 include the planned RJH Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic estimated at $3 million, the VGH Pediatric Youth Mental Health Stabilization Unit estimated at $5 million, and the Urban Victoria Health Centre estimated at $3.4 million.
The CRD follows a four-year planning cycle to ensure alignment with the local government election cycle. The CRD’s multi-year financial plans establish a longer-term perspective of the allocation of resources required to deliver the programs and services needed by the community, and to accomplish Board priorities.
Financial plans are the products of a rigorous strategic, corporate and financial planning process spanning many months, starting in May of the preceding year. Service plans drive the financial planning process and provide necessary information to evaluate overall organizational requirements, new initiatives, proposed service levels and implications for the budget and financial plan.
Through Board direction, the Electoral Area Services Committee reviews and recommends all electoral area-only service budgets, including the review of Local Service Commission budgets. This process includes a significant amount of work undertaken by many commissioners who volunteer their services in the Southern Gulf Islands, Salt Spring Island and Juan de Fuca electoral areas.
The preliminary 2019 CRD Financial Plan is subject to change prior to final approval by the Board in March. Feedback can be provided via email at financialplan@crd.bc.ca. Comments are correlated and provided to the Board as part of the budget approval process.
To review details and provide feedback, please visit www.crd.bc.ca/about/financial-accountability/budget-in-brief.
Proud to be recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the CRD delivers regional, sub-regional and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and all levels of government to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.bc.ca.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250.360.3229
Cell: 250.216.5492