Let's Talk Financial Plan 2023-2027

May 10, 2023

LINK TO PDF

City of Parksville open Council meetings to discuss the 2023-2027 financial plan have now concluded. Council actively sought input from the community by hosting public meetings in March and April and inviting feedback through an online survey and correspondence.

Each year, the City creates a five-year financial plan which outlines how resources will be allocated to achieve Council’s identified strategic goals and to enable City departments to deliver services to residents in a fiscally responsible manner. Parksville Council sets the rates for property tax and water and sewer services during the annual financial planning process.

The 2023-2027 financial plan, tax rates and utility rates bylaws were given final adoption by Council at the special Council meeting on May 8. These bylaws reflect a 6.8% increase in general municipal property taxes, a 5% increase in metered water and water parcel tax rates, and a 3% increase in sanitary sewer usage and parcel tax rates. For the average residential property, these increases will total about $150 per year.

The general, water and sewer fund financial plans include major and minor capital expenditures of about
$15 million. Some of the 2023 projects are highlighted here:

• Drinking water master plan
• Contribution to the Oceanside track
• Parksville Community Park - gathering plaza, new washroom building, playground resurfacing, sports courts upgrades, and safety and accessibility improvements
• Moss Avenue - replacement of roads, water, sewer, and storm drainage infrastructure
• Infrastructure master plans - water, sewer, storm drainage, and transportation
• Capital asset condition assessments
• Preliminary design for fire hall renovation/addition
• Management plans for ecologically sensitive areas (Parksville Wetlands, Shelly Creek)
• Replacement of two dump trucks and two pickup trucks in operations
• Replacement of three pickup trucks for Parksville Fire Rescue

Council also approved the transfer of $10.1 million, including the $4.789 million received from the province from the new Growing Communities Fund, to reserves for funding future capital projects.

Property tax notices will be mailed to residents and businesses later this month. Property taxes are collected to fund operations, capital and other City service expenditures in 2023 as reflected in the 2023-2027 general fund financial plan.

The due date for property taxes is Tuesday, July 4, 2023, with penalties as follows:

• Regardless of your payment method, payment must be received at the City of Parksville by the due date of Tuesday, July 4, 2023, or be subject to an immediate 5% penalty.
• An additional 5% penalty will be applied to current year property taxes outstanding at the end of business on September 15.
• Penalties are also applied to any unclaimed homeowner grants.

The City’s financial plans referred to above may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville. Staff presentations from the public March and April meetings are also available on Let’s Talk Parksville and the meetings are archived on our website through webstreaming.

March 29, 2023

LINK TO PDF

Open Council meetings to discuss the 2023-2027 financial plan will continue into April. Public input is an important part of the City’s financial planning process and helps to inform the plan. The City’s annual budget is part of a five-year financial plan which sets out the services and initiatives for the next five years and how the City of Parksville will pay for them. The City strives to maintain quality programs and services for our residents and keep taxes affordable for businesses and homeowners.

The next open Council meetings to discuss the 2023-2027 financial plan are scheduled as follows:

• Monday, April 3 at 1 pm - discussion on the financial plan will be part of the regular Council meeting. The City’s equipment replacement reserve will be discussed.
• Wednesday, April 5 at 10 am - to discuss water fund and sanitary sewer fund financial plans.
• Wednesday, April 12 at 6 pm - additional information requested by Council and consideration of property tax and utility rate scenarios.
• Monday, May 1 at 1 pm - as part of the regular Council meeting, setting of the property tax rates and readings of financial plan and utility rates bylaws.
• Monday, May 8 at 1 pm - adoption of bylaws from May 1 meeting.

Here are ways residents may continue to engage in the financial planning process:

• Submit comments by email to council@parksville.ca.
• Residents wishing comments to be considered by Council prior to the meetings, should be received by 4 pm on the working day before the meeting (March 31, April 4, and April 11).
• Meetings may be viewed live and archived through webstreaming from the City’s website.
• Comments, questions, and ideas may be posted to the City’s online engagement site, Let’s Talk Parksville.
• All comments about the financial plan received by the City will form part of the public record.

If you wish to familiarize yourself with the City’s financial planning process, previous years’ plans and presentations may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville and on the City’s website.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
dtardiff@parksville.ca; 250 954-3087

February 13, 2023

LINK TO PDF

Public input is an important part of the City of Parksville’s financial planning process and Council wishes to receive input from residents and businesses prior to financial plan deliberation meetings in March and April. This input will help to inform the City’s 2023-2027 financial plan.

The City’s annual budget is part of a five-year financial plan which sets out the services and initiatives for the next five years and how the City of Parksville will pay for them. The City strives to maintain quality programs and services for our residents and keep taxes affordable for businesses and homeowners.

Council meetings to discuss the new financial plan will be held as follows:

Wednesday, March 15 - 10 am
Wednesday, March 22 - 10 am
Monday, March 27 - 1 pm
Wednesday, April 12 - 6 pm

Here are ways residents may engage in the financial planning process:

• Submit comments by email to council@parksville.ca.
• Residents wishing comments to be considered by Council prior to the meetings, should be received by 4 pm on the working day before the meeting (March 14, March 21, March 24 and April 11).
• Meetings may be viewed live and archived through webstreaming from the City’s website.
• Comments, questions and ideas may be posted to the City’s online engagement site, Let’s Talk Parksville.
• Participate in our online survey. Results will assist Council to better understand where funds should be spent in 2023. Survey is open until February 24 and may be accessed from the City’s website.
• Please note, all comments regarding the financial plan received by the City will form part of the public record.

If you wish to familiarize yourself with the City’s financial planning process, previous years’ plans and presentations may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville and on the City’s website.

January 25, 2023

LINK TO PDF

Public input is an important part of the City of Parksville’s financial planning process and Council wishes to receive input from residents and businesses prior to financial plan deliberation meetings in March and April. This input will help to inform the City’s 2023-2027 financial plan.

The City’s annual budget is part of a five-year financial plan which sets out the services and initiatives for the next five years and how the City of Parksville will pay for them. The City strives to maintain quality programs and services for our residents and keep taxes affordable for businesses and homeowners.

ONLINE SURVEY
We are once again asking residents to complete an online survey to assist Council to better understand where residents would prioritize monies to be spent in 2023 to 2027. The survey, available online until 4 pm, February 24, may be accessed from the City’s website and from this link. As well, paper copies of the survey may be obtained from City Hall.

FINANCIAL PLAN MEETINGS OPEN TO PUBLIC
Council meetings to discuss the new financial plan will be held as follows:

Wednesday, March 15 10 am Monday, March 27 1 pm
Wednesday, March 22 10 am Wednesday, April 12 6 pm

In addition to the survey and in-person attendance at Council meetings, residents may participate through these means:

• Comments and questions may be emailed at any time to council@parksville.ca and will form part of the public record.
• Learn about our financial planning process and ask questions. Let’s Talk Parksville offers information to help our residents and businesses understand the City’s financial planning process and how tax dollars are spent. Consider being involved by sharing comments and it’s a great place to ask questions. Input will form part of the public record and will be provided to Council.
• All Council public financial plan meetings will be webstreamed live and archived from our website.

If you wish to familiarize yourself with the City’s financial planning process, previous years’ plans and presentations may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville and on the City’s website.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
dtardiff@parksville.ca; 250 954-3087