Finance & Administration Report: BUDGET VARIANCE AND PROJECTS UPDATE REPORT TO DECEMBER 31, 2021
A financial status report summarizing the Town's revenue, expenses, and project progress as of year-end 2021.
TOWN OF VIEW ROYAL
Finance & Administration Report
TO: Committee of the Whole FROM: S. Vella, Manager of Accounting DATE: January 6, 2022 MEETING DATE: January 11, 2022
BUDGET VARIANCE AND PROJECTS UPDATE REPORT TO DECEMBER 31, 2021
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report dated January 6, 2022 from the Manager of Accounting titled “Budget Variance and Projects Update Report to December 31, 2021” be received for information.
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:
I concur with the recommendation.
PURPOSE OF REPORT:
To provide Council with information regarding the financial results of operations and progress of projects to December 31, 2021.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2021 Council adopted a five-year financial plan (Bylaw 1071) that identifies revenue and expense targets and authorizes projects to further its strategic objectives. The attached schedules are provided to inform Council of the financial results of delivering services and projects to December 31 this year.
DISCUSSION:
New Budget Variance Dashboard
At the July 13, 2021 Committee of the Whole meeting, staff presented the new Budget Variance Dashboard to Council with the goal of keeping both Council and the public informed of the financial results of operations. The dashboard also includes information about the status of both non-core and capital projects along with related operating budget and spending to date. The Budget Variance Dashboard is now live, available to Council and the public on the Town of View Royal website. The Dashboard displays year-to-date values (YTD) and is updated weekly. Viewers can watch the accompanying instructional video that gives a tour of the Dashboard and provides helpful tips and explanations.
Council also requested that statistics relating to Dashboard use be monitored. While we are working on getting more complete reporting, we see that between September 1 and December 31, 363 unique visitors viewed the Dashboard launch page. After the initial launch, about 30 visitors viewed the Dashboard launch page each month.
Please note that the financial values provided are subject to change until finalized for the published financial statements. Also, the values in the dashboard will not match those on the attached consolidated reports, as the dashboard reflects only operating revenue and expense and specific project financial information, rather than the full consolidated budget.
Consolidated Budget Variance and Projects Update Report
Revenues and expenses to date are within expected variances to December 31, 2021 with the exceptions and comments noted below.
Casino Revenue
On March 16, 2020 the Attorney General ordered the temporary closure of all gambling facilities in B.C. in consultation with and on the advice of the Provincial Health Officer. This action was taken to protect British Columbians and ensure the province was in the best position to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure caused a halt to gaming revenue earned by the Town since that time.
British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and its casino service providers reopened casinos and community gaming centres on July 1, 2021 as part of Step 3 of the province’s Restart Plan. The re-opening of Elements Casino in View Royal generated total Quarter 3 revenue of $1,332,661.36. View Royal’s share for that period was 45% or $599,697.61. The next reporting from BCLC is expected late January or early February 2022.
The 2021-2025 Financial Plan reflected a re-opening of the Casino in 2022, thus this revenue is unplanned for 2021. Per policy, casino revenue is transferred to the casino reserve for future use.
Consolidated Revenue
Schedule A – Consolidated Budget Variance shows revenue on a consolidated basis, which means that both operating and capital revenue are added together in the same format as shown in the five-year financial plan bylaw. Sixty-four percent or $14.7 million of the total 2021 consolidated revenue budget comes from current year operations. At December 31, $16.6 million (112.9%) in total operating revenue has been received or is receivable, putting View Royal on track to exceed its total revenue target, due mainly to unanticipated casino revenue and federal gas tax grant. The following table identifies some exceptions and related explanations.
| Revenue Type | Actual | Budget | Variance | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| User fees | $2,825,652 | $2,822,165 | (3,487) | Sewer user rates were set to recover $34,000 more than budgeted to accommodate the increased cost of sewer treatment invoiced by the CRD. Actual sewer revenue is being negatively impacted by a greater number of sewer leak adjustments than estimated for 2021 ($28,927) refunded to December 31. Any shortfall at year end will be absorbed by the sewer fund operating surplus. |
| Sales of services | 1,157,291 | 814,514 | (342,777) | Building and other permit revenue is $216,000 higher than expected for the full year, however, if projects were not completed by year end, it is likely that some of this revenue will be deferred to 2022. Additionally, this variance includes $120,000 unplanned revenue from fighting wildfires, which is offset by associated expense; any surplus will be contributed to the fire vehicle and equipment replacement reserve. |
| Penalties and fines | 93,663 | 60,000 | (33,663) | In Q3, the 10% late payment penalty on taxes was approximately double that of recent years, contributing $40,000 to this variance. |
| Other revenue | 1,012,180 | 232,275 | (779,905) | The variance in other revenue is primarily comprised of net proceeds from the sale of land, which was not anticipated in the budget and the repatriation to the sewer capital reserve due to an adjustment to the 2021 CRD sewer capital requisition. This adjustment was caused by a cumulative overage in prior-years’ requisitions relating to the new wastewater treatment plant. |
| Gov’t grants and transfers | 2,064,841 | 2,095,677 | 30,836 | The variance includes a second gas tax revenue payment from the federal government of $500,000 and a casino revenue payment of $600,000 which were not anticipated in the budget. This positive variance is offset by $1.1 million shortfall in conditional grants related to specific initiatives or projects which will not proceed if the grants are not approved. |
| DCCs, transfers, and internal cost allocations | 1,862,689 | 7,305,450 | 5,442,761 | These items relate to entries that are dependent on finalization of other determinants at year-end, such as amortization, and will not be reported until completed. |
Consolidated Expense
Like revenue, expense is shown on Schedule A on a consolidated basis – operating, capital expenses and transfers are added together. Sixty-eight percent or $15.6 million of the 2021 total consolidated expense is budgeted for operations. At December 31, 2021, 87% of total operating expense ($13.6 million) has been spent or is payable.
Generally, operating expense is spread evenly throughout the year such that at December 31 minimal budget should remain for each of the functional services. Schedule A shows that most operational services have budget remaining, which allows for the timing differences, year-end accruals, and other project or contingency expenses.
The variance amounts showing as transfers to reserves and reserve accounts, a combined $2.25 million, includes proceeds from the disposal of land earlier in the year, the CRD capital reserve repatriation, an additional federal gas tax and Quarter 3 casino revenue which were not anticipated in the budget. Remaining transfers to surplus, reserves and for internal cost allocations and amortization will be completed as a part of year-end work.
Non-core projects
The 2021 budget includes $455,540 designated for specific non-core projects. Non-core projects are defined as those that represent a change to service levels or are new non-recurring or infrequent items. The attached Schedule B – Non-core Projects details the non-core budget and the actual expenditures that total $165,964 to December 31, 2021 and includes projected completion dates. Note that discrete actual costs for non-core projects relating to increases in personnel are not available but are included as a part of the total non-core budget.
Further details about non-core projects can be viewed in the Budget Variance Dashboard at viewroyal.ca.
Capital projects
The 2021 budget includes $2,609,526 allocated for specific capital projects. The attached Schedule C – Capital Projects details the capital budget and the actual expenditures that total $747,317 to December 31, 2021 and includes projected completion dates.
Further details about capital projects can be viewed in the Budget Variance Dashboard at viewroyal.ca.
Summary
Due to timing differences between internal reporting timelines and invoices from vendors, there may exist variances between reported costs and final costs of some projects. As invoices are processed, a more complete calculation of actual variances will be made.
Cost overruns can be offset by deferring other projects with the same funding source, to the extent that there are no other significant impacts to levels of service.
Staff will continue to monitor financial results to ensure delivery of services and projects within the allocated budgets. Where applicable, staff will seek budget amendment approval in due course once the final funding requirements are known.
Should corrective measures be necessary, staff will inform Council of the effect, if any, on service levels or project completion timelines.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the report dated January 6, 2022 from the Manager of Accounting titled “Budget Variance and Projects Update Report to December 31, 2021” be received for information.
SUBMITTED BY: S. Vella, Manager of Accounting
REVIEWED BY: D. Christenson, Director of Finance
Attachments: Schedule A: Consolidated Budget Variance Schedule B: Non-core Projects Schedule C: Capital Projects
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