District of Coldstream's Proposed Financial Plan 2026-2030
- ExNews.net
- 8 minutes ago
- 2 min read
This quick summary covers the main points of the District's proposed 5 year financial plan, focusing on the 2026 property tax increase, key drivers, revenue/expenditure breakdowns, departmental changes, and year-over-year trends where detailed in the documents.
2026 Tax Impact (Main Focus)
Proposed property tax rate increase for 2026: 8.72% (net after new development revenues add to the tax base).
Without new properties completing in 2025, it would have been closer to 9.71%.
Equates to ~$154.58 more for the average single-family home (from 2025 taxes of ~$1,773.24 to projected $1,927.81 in 2026).
Key drivers: Additional RCMP member (to 8 total), new engineering technologist position, lake access improvements, asset management levy contributions, and general wage/contract inflation.
Consolidated Revenues & Expenditures (Schedule A) – YoY Trends
Revenues and expenditures show steady modest growth over 2026–2030 (roughly 2–4% annual average in many lines, driven by taxation growth, grants, and fees).
Revenues (selected major lines, approximate from table):
Municipal Property Taxation: 2026: $11,083,990 → 2027: $11,400,214 (+2.85% YoY) → 2028: $11,725,279 (+2.85%) → 2029: $12,005,874 (+2.40%) → 2030: $12,305,149 (+2.49%).
Overall taxation grows ~2–3% YoY on average, reflecting base growth plus some new development.
Total Revenues (consolidated operations): $17.67M in 2026 → ~$17.95M in 2027 (+1.6%) → $18.31M in 2028 (+2.0%) → $18.84M in 2029 (+2.9%) → $19.20M in 2030 (+1.9%).
Modest upward trend, with property taxes as the largest growing component (~61.9% of total).
Expenditures (major categories):
Total Expenditures trend similarly upward (e.g., from ~$17.67M operations base in 2026, with surpluses after non-cash adjustments).
Protective Services, Transportation, Sewer, Parks, etc., show gradual increases (often 2–5% YoY in wages/contracts due to inflation, CUPE agreements ~3%, market reviews ~7% in some areas).
Capital expenditures funded from reserves/grants; net cash from operations positive but adjusted for debt/reserves.
Cash Flow & Reserves Summary:
Annual surpluses (after non-cash like amortization): ~$582K–$746K range across years.
Net transfers to reserves vary (e.g., larger in some years for capital like sewer expansions).
No sharp YoY spikes noted beyond normal growth.
Departmental YoY Notes (from Specific Budget Sheets)
Many areas highlight 2026 vs 2025 changes, with multi-year projections showing stability/growth:
Environmental Health (Cemetery/Middletown Yard): 2026 expenditures ~$133K (down slightly from prior due to removal of transfer station service); net tax funding decreases ~16% for 2026.
Development Services: Net property tax funding proposed to decrease ~48% in 2026 (thanks to higher building permit revenues ~$367K+).
Protective Services (RCMP/Fire/Emergency): Tax funding up ~5% in 2026; policing increase for 8th RCMP member, wages up (market + CUPE adjustments).
Parks Services: Property tax funding up; fees revenue increase >13% in 2026; equipment/maintenance rises.
Transportation Services: Tax funding increase ~5% in 2026; some decreases in contracted services offset by management/wage hikes.
Sewer Services: No net tax funding (user fees cover); capital projects extend services.
Water Services: No net tax funding (remitted to Greater Vernon Water).
Fiscal Services: Interest/principal stable; no major YoY change noted.
Overall Multi-Year Picture (2026–2030)
Steady, controlled growth in most areas (revenues/expenditures ~2–4% average YoY).
Emphasis on user fees/grants to offset tax reliance where possible. Policies aim for competitive multipliers across property classes and exemptions/revitalization programs.
No dramatic YoY jumps projected beyond 2026's initial 8.72% tax adjustment; later years appear more incremental.
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