City Of Campbell River Releases Draft Financial Plan

The City of Campbell River has released a Draft Financial Plan through 2032 and the 2023 Budget.

Staff presented the budget documents to Council during the Committee of the Whole meeting last week.

The budget addresses challenges facing the City while balancing the need to invest in services relied on by residents.

A proposed 11.27% tax increase or an approximate $217 rise in annual property taxes for the average homeowner is included in the draft budget.

Mayor Kermit Dahl says the increase is higher than they would like to see, due to a number of factors like 20-year high inflation, supply chain issues, labour market shortages and fixed increases to city contracts.

He says staff will continue to look for opportunities to lower costs through operational efficiencies ahead of official budget deliberations.

Now is the time for residents to provide feedback on the budget so council can consider their comments when making  decisions in the coming weeks.

Alaina Maher, Director of Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer, says, “Municipalities across BC are facing similar budget challenges, as we can see by many other communities proposing higher than usual tax increases."

Council will deliberate the draft budget from March 7 to March 10, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The public is encouraged to review the draft and provide written comments ahead of time, or to present feedback during the meetings.

To access the Draft 2023 Budget, visit City of Campbell River financial Plans and Reports.