STAFF REPORT: THE VILLAGE INITIATIVE 2026-2028 REQUEST FOR FUNDING

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE REPORT

TO: Committee of the Whole DATE: April 8, 2026 FROM: Steven Vella, Director of Finance MEETING DATE: April 14, 2026

THE VILLAGE INITIATIVE 2026-2028 REQUEST FOR FUNDING

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report dated April 8, 2026 from the Director of Finance titled “The Village Initiative Request for Funding” be received for information.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS:

Option #2: THAT Committee to Council that staff execute a MOU with The Village Initiative to fund a Coordinator position and include in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan Bylaw the requested funding of $11,603 per year in the Grants-in-Aid budget for the years 2026-2028 inclusive, funded from Casino reserve

Option #3: THAT Committee to Council that staff execute a MOU with The Village Initiative to fund a Coordinator position and include in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan Bylaw the requested funding of $11,603 per year in the General Operating budget for the years 2026-2028 inclusive, funded from Casino reserve

PURPOSE:

To provide Council with information relating to the request from The Village Initiative for funding toward a 3-year Co-ordinator position and provide options.

TIME CRITICAL:

If Council wishes to provide funding 2026, the dollar amount must be included in the 2026-2030 Financial Plan bylaw the first three readings of which will occur on April 21st with adoption scheduled for May 5, in advance of the May 14th deadline.

BACKGROUND:

At the Council meeting of January 20, 2026 representatives from The Village Initiative appeared as a delegation to request funding for a Coordinator position, (Attachment A). While a resolution was requested by the proponent to include three years of funding in the Town’s Financial Plan, no resolution was passed by Council.

DISCUSSION:

If Council wishes to fund The Village Initiative, staff feel Casino reserve would be an appropriate funding source. There are two options:

1. Fund as part of the Grants in Aid program
2. Fund separately from Grants in Aid

While the proponent requested that the item not be treated as a Grant in Aid, Council may wish provide funding as part of the Grant in Aid program under a special circumstance allowed under Policy in order to cap Grant funding for eligible organizations to 5% of previous year’s Casino revenue. The 2026 budget for Grants in aid, funded from Casino is $87,267 and to date the Town has received applications totalling >$96K. Funding under this program would have the effect of earmarking $11,603 (per Section 8. Cost Estimate - Attachment A) each year for this organization while limiting the funds available to other organizations.

The second option which would alleviate pressure on the Grant in Aid budget is to include this item in the budget as a general operating item, funded from Casino. An example of this treatment is the annual crossing guard payment to SD61. The Town ceased funding the crossing guard program from the Grants in Aid budget in 2023. The budget now resides separately from Grants in Aid, funded from Casino.

At the time of writing, staff have learned the following regarding funding awarded to The Village Initiative from other West Shore municipalities:

• City of Colwood: $20,000 each year for 2026 and 2027
• District of Sooke: $14,400 each year for 2026 and 2027
• City of Langford: $44,400 for 2026
• District of Metchosin: $0
• District of Highlands: TBD

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GOAL:

The desired level of public participation for the recommended option is:

• Inform
• Consult
• Involve
• Collaborate
• Empower
• N/A

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A: 2026 01 20 Petition & Delegation - The Village