Minutes of a Special Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021

MINUTES OF A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BUDGET MEETING

HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021

VIEW ROYAL MUNICIPAL OFFICE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS

PRESENT WERE:

• Mayor Screech
• Councillor Kowalewich
• Councillor Lemon
• Councillor Mattson
• Councillor Rogers

REGRETS:

PRESENT ALSO:

• K. Anema, Chief Administrative Officer
• S. Jones, Director of Corporate Administration
• D. Christenson, Director of Finance
• L. Chase, Director of Development Services
• J. Rosenberg, Director of Engineering
• P. Hurst, Director of Protective Services
• S. Vella, Manager of Accounting
• E. Bolster, Deputy Corporate Officer
• J. Cochrane, Executive Assistant
• 0 members of the public
• 0 members of the press

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Screech called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.

The Mayor acknowledged that this meeting is being held on the traditional territory of the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation.

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED BY: Councillor Lemon

THAT the agenda be approved as presented. CARRIED

3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

4. REPORTS

a) 2021-2025 Five Year Financial Plan Deliberations

1. Summary from February 18, 2021 meeting

The Director of Finance provided a summary from the February 18, 2021 Council meeting discussion, noting the draft budget has had a net reduction of $257,000 resulting from decisions made to date.

The Director reviewed RCMP member fulfillment history, recommended operational adjustments, recommended reserves and surplus adjustments, the proposed West Shore Parks and Recreation funding transition to taxation, and 2021-2025 revised tax projections.

She presented various residential property tax scenarios based on different assessed values, comparing 2020 with 2021 data.

The Committee and Director discussed cost per full-time RCMP member, use of reserve funds, reduction in contributions to reserves, decreases made in 2021 that will be included in the 2022 budget, the projected 8.58% tax increase for 2022, debt servicing, potential tax impact to business class, the Casino reserve balance, and service levels.

The Committee agreed to: a.) not proceed to transition the funding of the West Shore Parks and Recreation service from Casino to taxation in 2021; b.) fund the Building Inspector position for the full year; and c.) move forward with a 4.5% general municipal property tax increase for 2021.

2. Continued 2021-2025 Financial Plan Deliberations

MOVED BY: Councillor Rogers SECONDED BY: Councillor Lemon

COW-09-21 THAT the Committee recommend to Council that staff prepare the 2021-2025 Financial Plan with a general municipal property tax increase of 4.5 % for 2021. CARRIED

5. QUESTION PERIOD