2012 City of Quesnel Operating Budget Overview...

On Monday at 6pm in Quesnel Council Chambers (2nd Floor - 410 Kinchant St) - Quesnel Council will begin their 2012 Budget Deliberations with a presentation from their Director of Finance Kari Bolton with the 2012 Preliminary Operating Budget.  Please note - these numbers in the document below are preliminary until Quesnel Council makes decisions on the 2012 Operations/Capital Budgets, expected to be later in the spring in 2012

View the presentation here

The presentation goes over budget process, the 2011 Budget, Preliminary 2012 Assessment, Budget Preparation, Quesnel Council Budget Objectives, Risks/Challenges to the budget, and a review to the different "Funds" that the City of Quesnel uses to provides the various services that taxpayers' pay for and receive

Quesnel City Staff state that long term debt sits at $8,839,300 at the end of 2011 but warn that this number is likely to rise, given a number of infrastructure projects that will need to be undertaken in the years going forward

Quesnel Staff warn, based on preliminary numbers, at minimum, taxes would rise by 2.6% or additional $16.80 in taxes for homeowners

Quesnel City Staff also warn that, with a 1% rise to the contribution to the local Capital Reinvestment Reserve and approval of Supplementary Budget Items ranked as "Essential" by Quesnel Staff and no tax shift - would mean a tax hike of 4.71% or additional $29.87 in taxes for homeowners'

With a 0.5% tax shift from industry - residential with 1% rise to the contribution to the local Capital Reinvestment Reserve and approval of Supplementary Budget Items ranked as "Essential" would mean a tax hike of 6.8% or additional $39.19 in taxes to the homeowner


With a 1% tax shift from industry - residential with 1% rise to the contribution to the local Capital Reinvestment Reserve and approval of Supplementary Budget Items ranked as "Essential" would mean a tax hike of 7.65% or additional $48.51 to the homeowner

This documents tells me, like most rural BC local governments, the City of Quesnel Council has a lot of challenging times ahead including balancing wants/needs in Quesnel while remembering the principle of "ability to pay".  It'll be a tough road ahead but I know between Quesnel Council & Staff and its' residents' - they are all up for the challenge...

SBF