Let's Talk Financial Plan 2026-2030

December 4, 2025

NEWS RELEASE

The City’s 2026-2030 Financial Plan will be considered at the December 15 Council meeting with three readings of the financial plan bylaw. It is expected final approval will be considered at the first Council meeting in 2026, on January 19. Guided by Council priorities, the City’s five-year financial planning process includes input from City departments, Council briefings and public consultation. The five-year financial plan sets the priority services, programs and initiatives for the next five years and how the City will pay for them.

Property tax rates and utility rates for the City will be set in spring 2026. The forecasted rate increases for 2026 are 6.77% for property taxes, 6% for water fees and 6% for sewer fees, which will result in an increase of about $178 over 2025 for an average residential property. The increases to property taxes and utility fees include increased investments in current and long-term critical infrastructure renewal to support a sustainable long-term financial plan for the City.

At the November 24 meeting, funding to support Parksville community group activities was added to the financial plan:

Significant projects in 2026 include completion of the drinking water master plan, construction of Phase 1 of the Parksville Pathway, Parksville Community Park lacrosse box/multi-sport court upgrades, Official Community Plan update, and asphalt overlays, other linear infrastructure renewals, utilities instrumentation and controls replacement, and water treatment plan upgrades. These projects are all funded by grants and/or accumulated capital reserves.

Public participation helps to ensure the plan reflects the community’s priorities and assists Council to balance individual needs and the needs of a growing community. Financial plan and presentations from the Committee of the Whole and Council meetings may be viewed on Let’s Talk Parksville. Meetings are also archived and may be viewed on our website through webstreaming.

At the December 1 meeting, Council gave three readings to the amended 2025-2029 financial plan, available at this link.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073

October 14, 2026

NEWS RELEASE

Community participation is an essential part of developing budget priorities. Public input into the process ensures the City’s financial plan reflects the community’s current wants and needs and assists Council with balancing the ongoing service needs of a growing community while delivering on strategic priorities and projects.

2026-2030 financial plan meetings will be held in the Forum, Parksville Civic and Technology Centre, 100 Jensen Avenue East, scheduled as follows:

Regular Council Meeting – Monday, November 3 at 1 pm
Introduction of asset management funding options

Special Committee of the Whole - Wednesday, November 5, 9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm
Year-to-date financial report; corporate work plan overview; intro to 2026-2030 financial plan; water and sewer funds

Special Committee of the Whole - Thursday, November 6, 9 am to noon and 1 to 4 pm
General fund operating and capital

Special Council - Wednesday, November 12 at 1 pm
Community organization presentations; motions forwarded from Committee of the Whole meetings

Special Council - Monday, November 24 at 1 pm
Council consideration of decision items; analysis of options for property taxes and utility rates

Regular Council - Monday, December 15 at 1 pm
Three readings of 2026-2030 provisional financial plan bylaw

Regular Council - Monday, January 19, 2026, at 1 pm
Adoption of provisional 2026-2030 financial plan

Topics listed are preliminary and may change; agendas may be viewed on the city’s website prior to meetings. Meetings will be webstreamed live and archived on the website. Comments can be submitted in-person at the meeting, online at Let’s Talk Parksville, or by email to council@parksville.ca. All comments will form part of the public record.

If you wish to become familiar with the City’s financial plan process, Let’s Talk Parksville provides previous financial plans and presentations as well as many other details.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073

September 16, 2025

NEWS RELEASE

Each year, the City prepares a five-year financial plan to meet the short- and long-term needs of our community, while trying to balance future financial sustainability with the current economic reality. Development of the financial plan is a complex process which includes input from City departments, Committee of the Whole meetings which provide background briefings for Council, community group presentations, and an opportunity for public input and comment.

Guided by Council priorities as outlined in its Strategic Plan, the City’s five-year financial plan sets the priority services, programs and initiatives for the next five years and, most importantly, how these will be funded. Five years of expected revenues and expenditures are presented for all services provided by the City, including general government, protective services (fire and police), engineering and public works, community planning, parks, solid waste collection, drinking water, sanitary sewer, and capital and long-term financial planning. The City endeavours to maintain quality programs and services for our residents and businesses while keeping property taxes and utility fees affordable.

KEY STEPS IN THE FINANCIAL PLAN PROCESS

• During September and October, senior staff review department business cases and budgets in the context of Council’s strategic plan, economic changes, operating workplans, funding opportunities, and feedback from the community received throughout the year.
• Committee of the Whole meetings to be held in November and open to the public, will review operating revenues and expenditures in the general, water and sewer funds, capital and special project expenditures, as well as community group funding requests.
• At a regular Council meeting in December, a draft 2030-2026 financial plan will be presented which will incorporate Council and public feedback. The plan is expected to receive three readings with approval of the provisional 2026-2030 financial plan in January 2026. Property tax and utility rates will be set in April 2026 after the property assessment roll is received.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Community participation is an important part of developing budget priorities. Public input into the process ensures the City’s financial plan reflects the community’s current wants and needs and assists Council with balancing the ongoing service needs of a growing community while delivering on strategic priorities and projects. Here are some of the ways residents can be involved in the City’s financial plan process:

• Attend or ask questions at financial plan meetings open to the public on November 5, November 6, November 12, and November 24. Refer to the City website calendar for times and Let’s Talk Parksville for more information.
• Comments and questions may be emailed 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 residents and businesses understand the City’s financial planning process and how tax dollars are spent. Consider being involved by asking questions or sharing comments. Input will form part of the public record.
• Council public financial plan meetings will be webstreamed live and archived from our website.

If you wish to become familiar with the City’s financial plan process, Let’s Talk Parksville provides previous financial plans and presentations as well as many other details.

For more information:
Deb Tardiff, Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073