Parksville Council Adopts 2026-2030 Financial Plan

May 7, 2026

The 2026-2030 financial plan, tax rates and utility rates bylaws were given final adoption by Council at a special meeting on May 6. The bylaws reflect a 5.8% increase in general municipal property taxes, a 6% increase in metered water and water parcel tax rates, and a 6% increase in sanitary sewer usage and parcel tax rates. The estimated 2026 increase in property taxes and utility fees for an average priced home is $184.

Highlights from 2026-2030 financial plan include investments in special projects, capital assets and infrastructure renewal:

$445,000 - Drinking Water Master Plan (Phase 2)
$250,000 - Comprehensive review and update of Official Community Plan
$1.5 million - Parksville Pathway project (Parksville Community Park to Englishman River Estuary)
$735,000 - Parksville Community Park lacrosse box/multi-sport court upgrades
$100,000 - Shelly Road Centre playground
$100,000 - Sports fields and facilities needs assessment
$2.3 million - Alberni Highway pedestrian improvements (between Bernard and Lee Avenues)
$14.5 million - Fire Hall renovation/upgrades (pending award of $7M federal grant application)
$3.1 million - Fire Department apparatus replacement
$300,000 - Downtown lighting project
$10.3 million - Stanford Avenue East infrastructure renewal
$8.2 million - Jensen Avenue West infrastructure renewal
$5.7 million - Englishman River Water Service water treatment plant upgrades
$3.7 million per year - indexed to inflation, roads and drainage infrastructure renewal reserve contributions
$825,000 per year - indexed to inflation, water and sanitary sewer infrastructure renewal reserve contributions

Reserve funds established by Council contain funds which have been set aside for specific purposes as directed by a requirement of provincial or federal legislation, the reserves and surplus policy, or by a decision of Council. Maintaining adequate reserves and surplus play a significant role in achieving a level of financial stability for Parksville taxpayers. Such reserves include long-term capital infrastructure renewal and replacement, current capital funding (roads/asphalt overlay, storm drainage, water, and sewer) and protective services (fire and police) operating and capital. Total contributions to these capital reserves total about $35 million in the five-year financial plan.

The City’s financial plan, staff presentations and reports from the meetings may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville. As well, the meetings are archived and may be viewed through webstreaming on our website.

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