Cariboo Regional District releases Budget 2023 for feedback

Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:

The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) has completed its draft financial plan for 2023-2027, and is seeking feedback from residents and stakeholders on the proposed budget. A summary of the budget is available online to promote awareness and help provide feedback on the budget.

Survey results and other feedback received about the budget will be collected until February 10, 2023 and will be reviewed by the Board at its February 23, 2023 Budget-Finance Committee meeting. Following this, any proposed revisions or adjustments to the budget may be considered prior to proceeding with a ratification process. By law, the CRD Board must adopt its budget by March 31, 2023 to authorize funding.

In 2023, the CRD’s financial plan is increasing from $57.75 million to $58.08 million, and is proposing to collect $1,119,744 more in total tax revenue than in 2022. Changes to taxation levels will vary between individual properties depending on which service areas each property is included in and changes to that property’s assessed values. The financial plan also must be balanced for each individual service, and cannot run a deficit.

Many of the CRD’s services are seeing no tax increase or a minimal tax increase to account for inflation, while others will be seeing a higher increase to support infrastructure and equipment investments. The financial plan will fund several new initiatives and projects across the region, including:

• installing solar panels on the terminal building at the Anahim Lake Airport;
• installing new playground equipment at the Kersley recreation centre; and
• equipment and facility investments for rural fire departments and Central Cariboo Search & Rescue. 

Further information on the 2023-2027 financial plan, including the 2023 business plans for each service, is located online at www.cariboord.ca/budget. Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to provide their feedback to the CRD through an open-ended survey available through its website. Feedback can also be provided by emailing mailbox@cariboord.ca, engaging on the CRD’s social media channels, or contacting the Chief Financial Officer at 250-392-3351.

Residents and property owners who are unable to access digital materials can pick up paper copies of the survey at all CRD offices and library locations.