This site is in beta — data may be incomplete and features are still being added.
Council Meeting/Documents/Consolidated Financial Statements Town of View Royal Year ended December 31, 2024
Other

Consolidated Financial Statements Town of View Royal Year ended December 31, 2024

May 13, 2025Pages 31–5716 sections

The full draft of the 2024 audited consolidated financial statements, including statements of financial position and operations.

8.1.a 2024 Consolidated Financial Statements
Accumulated surplus: $154,870,949Financial Assets: $55,425,824Long-term debt: $3,688,412

Consolidated Financial Statements Town of View Royal Year ended December 31, 2024

45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC Canada V9B 1A6 www.viewroyal.ca

Page 31–57

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Management's Responsibility for Financial Reporting Independent Auditor's Report Consolidated Financial Statements

Statement Page
Statement A: Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 1
Statement B: Consolidated Statement of Operations 2
Statement C: Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets 3
Statement D: Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 5

Supporting Schedules

Schedule Page
Schedule 1: Consolidated Schedule of Segment Disclosure by Service - 2024 20
Schedule 2: Consolidated Schedule of Segment Disclosure by Service - 2023 21
Schedule 3: Consolidated Schedule of Tangible Capital Assets 22
Page 31–57

MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards for British Columbia local governments and the integrity and objectivity of these statements are management's responsibility. Management is also responsible for all the statements and schedules, and for ensuring that this information is consistent, where appropriate, with the information contained in the consolidated financial statements.

Management is also responsible for implementing and maintaining a system of internal controls to provide reasonable assurance that reliable financial information is produced.

View Royal's Mayor and Council are responsible for ensuring that management fulfils its responsibilities for financial reporting and internal control and exercises this responsibility by meeting with management and the external auditors to review the consolidated financial statements and to discuss any significant financial reporting or internal control matters prior to their acceptance of the consolidated financial statements.

The external auditors, MNP LLP, conduct an independent examination, in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, and express their opinion on the consolidated financial statements. Their examination includes a review and evaluation of the Town of View Royal's system of internal controls and appropriate tests and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that the consolidated financial statements are presented fairly. The external auditors have full and free access to the Mayor and Council.

Page 31–57

Independent Auditor's Report

To the Mayor and Council of the Town of View Royal:

Opinion

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of the Town of View Royal (the "Town"), which comprise the consolidated statement of financial position as at December 31, 2024, and the consolidated statements of operations, changes in net financial assets and cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Town as at December 31, 2024, and the results of its operations net financial assets and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Town in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the consolidated financial statements in Canada, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Other Information

Management is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the annual report, which is expected to be made available to us after the date of this auditor's report.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we will not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information identified above when it becomes available and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

When we read the annual report, if we conclude that there is a material misstatement therein, we are required to communicate the matter to those charged with governance.

Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Consolidated Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian public sector accounting standards, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is responsible for assessing the Town’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless management either intends to liquidate the Town or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Town’s financial reporting process.

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:

  • Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
  • Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Town’s internal control.
  • Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by management.
  • Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Town’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Town to cease to continue as a going concern.
  • Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
  • Plan and perform the group audit to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business units within the Town as a basis for forming an opinion on the financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and review of the audit work performed for the purposes of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Nanaimo, British Columbia May 13, 2025

Page 31–57

Statement A: Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

as at December 31, 2024

2024 2023
Financial assets
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 3) $ 53,150,527 $ 49,147,682
Property taxes receivable 283,848 122,881
Accounts receivable (Note 4) 1,980,226 1,975,958
Inventory held for sale 11,223 12,851
55,425,824 51,259,372
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 5) 4,000,716 5,045,005
Deposits 3,282,526 2,245,898
Deferred revenue (Note 6) 11,976,497 10,946,269
Prepaid property taxes 737,483 694,100
Long-term debt (Note 7) 3,688,412 4,146,384
Employee benefits and retirement obligations (Note 8) 315,050 309,584
24,000,684 23,387,240
Net financial assets 31,425,140 27,872,132
Non-financial assets
Tangible capital assets (Note 9) (Schedule 3) 123,278,431 122,183,649
Inventory of supplies 8,636 14,598
Prepaid expenses 158,742 132,690
123,445,809 122,330,937
Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)
Accumulated surplus (Note 10) $ 154,870,949 $ 150,203,069
Page 31–57

Statement B: Consolidated Statement of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2024

Financial plan (Note 19) 2024 2023
Revenue
Taxes for municipal purposes (Note 14) $ 12,241,375 $ 12,209,528 $ 11,308,449
User charges and sales of services 5,396,732 5,842,294 5,130,968
Investment income 465,000 2,059,442 1,893,688
Actuarial adjustments on debt - 143,633 134,316
Penalties and fines 69,000 137,670 89,522
Development charges earned 553,276 348,948 225,086
Contributions from developers and others 634,500 1,049,550 913,350
Other revenue from own sources 319,696 503,746 391,437
Government grants and transfers (Note 16) 5,085,104 3,883,449 7,943,027
Gain (loss) on sale of tangible capital assets (Note 9) - (63,566) (29,388)
24,764,683 26,114,694 28,000,455
Expense
General government services 3,433,268 2,902,317 2,895,314
Protective services 7,137,579 6,137,187 5,954,298
Transportation services 5,237,213 4,852,813 4,796,810
Environmental health services 2,964,404 2,871,649 2,686,647
Development services 972,740 709,841 527,180
Recreation and cultural services 3,808,733 3,973,007 3,783,677
23,553,937 21,446,814 20,643,926
Annual surplus 1,210,746 4,667,880 7,356,529
Accumulated surplus, beginning 150,203,069 150,203,069 142,846,540
Accumulated surplus, ending $ 151,413,815 $ 154,870,949 $ 150,203,069
Page 31–57

Statement C: Consolidated Statement of Change in Net Financial Assets

Year ended December 31, 2024

Financial plan (Note 19) 2024 2023
Annual surplus $ 1,210,746 $ 4,667,880 $ 7,356,529
Acquisition of tangible capital assets (8,777,156) (4,753,869) (2,780,314)
Contributed tangible capital assets - - -
Amortization of tangible capital assets 3,279,925 3,314,066 3,164,434
(Gain) loss on disposal and write-down of tangible capital assets - 63,566 29,388
Proceeds on sale of tangible capital assets - 35,800 7,200
Change in proportionate share of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society - 245,655 227,220
Change in inventory of supplies - 5,962 1,260
Change in prepaid expenses - (26,052) (16,767)
Increase (decrease) in net financial assets (4,286,485) 3,553,008 7,988,950
Net financial assets, beginning 27,872,132 27,872,132 19,883,182
Net financial assets, ending $ 23,585,647 $ 31,425,140 $ 27,872,132
Page 31–57

Statement D: Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended December 31, 2024

2024 2023
Cash provided by (used in)
Operating activities
Annual surplus $ 4,667,880 $ 7,356,529
Items not affecting operating activities
Amortization of tangible capital assets 3,314,066 3,164,434
(Gain) loss on disposal and write-down of tangible capital assets 63,566 29,388
Change in inventory of supplies 5,962 1,260
Change in prepaid expenses (26,052) (16,767)
Actuarial adjustment on debt (142,357) (125,652)
Change in proportionate share of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society 245,655 227,220
Decrease (increase) in non-cash financial assets
Property taxes receivable (160,967) 20,403
Accounts receivable (4,268) (57,605)
Inventory held for sale 1,628 2,994
Increase (decrease) in liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (1,044,289) 524,354
Deposits 1,036,628 96,982
Deferred revenue 1,030,228 3,644,308
Prepaid property taxes 43,383 98,608
Employee benefits and retirement obligations 5,466 16,444
9,036,529 14,982,900
Capital activities
Acquisition of tangible capital assets (4,753,869) (2,780,314)
Proceeds on disposal of tangible capital assets 35,800 7,200
(4,718,069) (2,773,114)
Financing activities
Debt principal repaid (315,615) (315,615)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 4,002,845 11,894,171
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning 49,147,682 37,253,511
Cash and cash equivalents, ending $ 53,150,527 $ 49,147,682
Page 31–57

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year ended December 31, 2024

The Town of View Royal (the "Town") was incorporated on December 5, 1988 by letters patent issued by the Province of British Columbia. Its principal activities are the provision and coordination of local government services to residents of the incorporated area. These services include general government administration, bylaw enforcement, planning and development services, building inspection, fire protection and emergency response planning, public transportation, parks and recreation, solid waste collection and disposal, sewer collection and disposal, and street lighting.

1. Significant accounting policies

a) Principles of consolidation

The Town follows Canadian public sector accounting standards. The consolidated financial statements of the Town are prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB).

b) Reporting entity

The consolidated financial statements reflect the combined assets, liabilities, accumulated surplus, revenue and expense of all of the Town's activities and funds. The consolidated financial statements also include the Town's proportionate share of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society (West Shore). Interfund transactions and fund balances have been eliminated on consolidation.

c) Basis of accounting

The Town follows the accrual method of accounting for revenue and expense. Revenue is normally recognized in the year in which it is earned and measurable. Expense is recognized as it is incurred and measurable as a result of receipt of goods or services and/or the creation of a legal obligation to pay. Expense paid in the current period and attributable to a future period is recorded as prepaid expense.

d) Property tax revenue

Property tax revenue is recognized at the date property tax notices are issued, based on property assessment values issued by BC Assessment for the current year and tax rates established annually by bylaw. Assessments are subject to appeal and tax adjustments are recorded when the results of appeals are known.

e) Government transfers

Government transfers are recognized as revenue in the period the transfers are authorized and any eligibility criteria have been met, except to the extent that transfer stipulations give rise to an obligation that meets the definition of a liability. Transfers are recognized as deferred revenue when transfer stipulations give rise to a liability and recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as revenue as the stipulation liabilities are settled.

f) Revenue recognition

User charges and sales of services are recognized as revenue when the performance obligation has been satisfied and when the amount can be estimated and collection is reasonably assured. Deferred revenue is recorded until the performance obligation has been met on these exchange transactions.

For non-exchange transactions, deferred revenue includes grants from non-government sources, contributions and other amounts received from third parties pursuant to legislation, regulation and agreement which may only be used in certain programs, in completion of specific work, or for the purchase of tangible capital assets. Revenue for these non-exchange transactions is recognized when the related expenses are incurred, services performed, or the tangible capital assets are acquired.

Development cost charges are amounts which are restricted by government legislation or agreement with external parties. When qualifying expenses are incurred development cost charges are recognized as revenue in amounts which equal the associated expenses.

g) Investment income

Investment income is reported as revenue in the period earned. When required by the funding entity or related legislation, investment income earned on deferred revenue is added to the deferred revenue balance.

h) Cash equivalents

Cash equivalents are comprised primarily of Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) pooled investments including money market, intermediate and bond funds. Town funds invested with MFA are pooled with other local governments and are professionally managed and objectively benchmarked by large, secure financial services organizations.

i) Deposits

Receipts restricted by third parties are deferred and reported as deposits and are refundable under certain circumstances. Deposits that are prepayments are recognized as revenue when qualifying expenditures are incurred.

j) Employee benefits and retirement obligations

The Town and its employees make contributions to the Municipal Pension Plan. The Town’s contributions are expensed as incurred and are included within the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Sick leave and other retirement benefits are also available to the Town’s employees. The costs of these benefits are actuarially determined based on service and best estimates of retirement ages and expected future salary and wage increases. The obligations under these benefit plans are accrued based on projected benefits as the employees render services necessary to earn the future benefits.

k) Non-financial assets

Non-financial assets are not available to discharge existing liabilities and are held for use in the provision of services. They have useful lives extending beyond the current year and are not intended for sale in the ordinary course of operations.

i) Tangible capital assets

Tangible capital assets are recorded at cost, net of disposals, write-downs and amortization. The cost of tangible capital assets includes all amounts that are directly attributable to acquisition, construction, development or betterment of the asset. The cost less residual value of the tangible capital assets, excluding land, is amortized on a straight line basis over the estimated useful life as follows:

Land Indefinite
Land improvements 10 - 25
Buildings 20 - 70
Vehicles, machinery and equipment 3 - 20
Engineering structures 10 - 100

Amortization is calculated monthly, including in the year of acquisition and disposal. Assets under construction are not amortized until the asset is available for productive use.

Tangible capital assets are written down when conditions indicate that they no longer contribute to the Town's ability to provide goods and services, or when the value of future economic benefits associated with the asset is less than the book value of the asset.

ii) Contributions of tangible capital assets

Tangible capital assets received as contributions are recorded at their fair value at the date of receipt, with the value of the contribution recorded as revenue.

iii) Works of art and cultural and historical treasures

The Town manages and controls various works of art and non-operational historical cultural assets including buildings, artifacts, paintings and sculptures located at Town sites and public display areas. These assets are not recorded as tangible capital assets and are not amortized due to the subjectivity of their value.

iv) Interest capitalization

The Town does not capitalize interest costs associated with the acquisition or construction of a tangible capital asset.

v) Leased tangible capital assets

Leases which transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks incidental to ownership of property are accounted for as leased tangible capital assets. All other leases are accounted for as operating leases and the related payments are charged to expenses as incurred.

vi) Inventory of supplies

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost and replacement cost.

l) Use of estimates

Page 31–57

The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the period. Significant estimates include assumptions used in estimating provisions for accrued liabilities, performing calculations of employee future benefits, sick benefits liability, collectability of accounts receivable, amortization of capital assets, determination of liability for contaminated sites, deferred charges and provisions for contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Adjustments, if any, will be reflected in operations in the period of settlement.

m) Adoption of new accounting standards

Effective January 1, 2024, the Town adopted the Public Sector Accounting Board’s (PSAB) new standard for the recognition, measurement and disclosure of revenue under PS 3400 Revenue. The new standard establishes when to recognize and how to measure revenue, and provides the related financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements. Under the new standard, revenue is differentiated between revenue arising from transactions that include performance obligations, referred to as “exchange transactions”, and transactions that do not have performance obligations.

Pursuant to the recommendations in PS 3400, the new standard was applied prospectively, and prior periods have not been restated. There was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements as a result of application of the new standard.

n) Financial instruments

The Town recognizes its financial instruments when the Town becomes party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument. All financial instruments are initially recorded at their fair value.

At initial recognition, the Town may irrevocably elect to subsequently measure any financial instrument at fair value. The Town has not made such an election during the year.

The Town subsequently measures investments in equity instruments quoted in an active market and all derivative instruments, except those that are linked to, and must be settled by delivery of, unquoted equity instruments of another entity, at fair value. Fair value is determined by published price quotations. Transactions to purchase or sell these items are recorded on the trade date. Net gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognized in the statement of remeasurement gains and losses. The Town has not presented a statement of remeasurement gains and losses as it does not have any items giving rise to remeasurement gains (losses). Interest income is recognized in the statement of operations. Investments in equity instruments not quoted in an active market and derivatives that are linked to, and must be settled by delivery of, unquoted equity instruments of another entity, are subsequently measured at cost. With the exception of those instruments designated at fair value, all other financial assets and liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

Transaction costs directly attributable to the origination, acquisition, issuance or assumption of financial instruments subsequently measured at fair value are immediately recognized in operating annual surplus. Conversely, transaction costs are added to the carrying amount for those financial instruments subsequently measured at cost or amortized cost.

2. Financial instruments

The Town’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, deposits, and long-term debt. The carrying amount of these financial instruments approximates their fair value because they are short-term in nature or because they bear interest at market rates.

Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Town is not exposed to significant interest or credit risks arising from these financial instruments.

3. Cash and cash equivalents

2024 2023
Bank deposits $ 39,926,615 $ 36,585,698
Municipal Finance Authority - Money Market 1,078,989 1,029,469
Municipal Finance Authority - Ultra Short Bond 2,269,914 2,154,955
Municipal Finance Authority - Short-Term Bond 9,875,009 9,377,560
$ 53,150,527 $ 49,147,682

Cash and cash equivalents consist of short-term investments in the MFA money market, ultra short-term, and short term bond funds and pooled high-interest savings. The market value is equal to the carrying value. Temporary investments have yields ranging from 4.007% to 5.440%.

Included in cash and cash equivalents are the following restricted amounts:

2024 2023
Restricted cash - West Shore reserve funds (Note 10) $ 369,275 $ 361,178
Restricted investments - reserve funds (Note 10) 18,703,945 16,982,584
Restricted investments - development cost charges (Note 6) 10,862,177 9,466,742
$ 29,935,397 $ 26,810,504

The Town has an operating line of credit with the Toronto Dominion Bank for an authorized amount of $1,000,000, bearing interest at bank prime rate less 0.50% per annum. At December 31, 2024 the balance outstanding was $nil (2023 - $nil).

4. Accounts Receivable

2024 2023
Government of Canada $ 445,919 $ 338,440
Province of British Columbia 1,047,776 1,087,263
Regional and local governments 1,039 8,939
Deposits 2,500 2,500
Other trade receivables 482,992 538,816
$ 1,980,226 $ 1,975,958

5. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

2024 2023
Government of Canada $ 610,243 $ 534,658
Province of British Columbia 748,331 612,368
Regional and local governments 709,360 712,894
Payroll liabilities 224,534 285,212
Other trade payables 1,708,248 2,899,873
$ 4,000,716 $ 5,045,005

6. Deferred revenue

2024 2023
Development cost charges
Beginning balance $ 9,466,742 $ 6,222,401
Received during the year 1,219,394 3,076,019
Interest earned 525,008 393,408
Recognized as revenue (348,948) (225,086)
Ending balance 10,862,177 9,466,742
Deferred revenue - other 1,114,320 1,479,527
Total deferred revenue $ 11,976,497 $ 10,946,269

7. Long-term debt

a) Debt outstanding

Issue # Matures Rate Original Amount Net debt 2024 Net debt 2023
117 Oct. 12, 2026 3.25% $ 2,445,000 $ 411,904 $ 607,469
127 Apr. 7, 2034 3.30% 5,490,000 3,276,508 3,538,915
$ 7,935,000 $ 3,688,412 $ 4,146,384

b) Debenture debt

The loan agreements with the Capital Regional District and the MFA provide that if, at any time, the scheduled payments provided for in the agreements are not sufficient to meet the MFA’s obligations in respect of such borrowings, the resulting deficiency becomes a liability of the Town.

The Town issues its debt instruments through the MFA. Debt is issued on a sinking fund basis, where the MFA invests the Town’s sinking fund principal payments so that the payments, plus investment income, will equal the original outstanding debt amount at the end of the repayment period. Actuarial adjustments on debt represent the repayment and/or forgiveness of debt by the MFA using surplus investment income generated by the principal repayments.

Principal payments on long term debt for the next five years are as follows:

Page 31–57
Year Amount
2025 $ 333,073
2026 333,073
2027 201,822
2028 201,822
2029 201,822
Thereafter 2,416,800
Total $ 3,688,412

c) Interest expense

Total interest expense during the year was $250,600 (2023 - $217,112).

8. Employee benefit and retirement obligations

Employee benefit obligations represent accrued benefits as follows:

2024 2023
Accrued vacation $ 33,505 $ 20,507
Accrued overtime 115,466 113,233
Accrued sick leave 124,500 134,900
West Shore employee future benefit obligations 41,579 40,944
$ 315,050 $ 309,584

Accrued vacation is the amount of unused vacation entitlement carried forward into the next year. Accrued sick leave is the estimated liability for sick leave for all employees. Sick leave entitlements can only be used while employed by the Town and are not paid out upon retirement or termination of employment. The accrued sick leave actuarial valuation was estimated as at December 31, 2024.

Information about liabilities for accrued sick leave is as follows:

2024 2023
Accrued benefit obligation, beginning of year $ 123,200 $ 116,400
Adjustment to benefit obligation - -
Current service cost 9,100 8,300
Interest cost 4,900 5,400
Benefits paid (23,700) (5,100)
Amortization of actuarial (gain) 11,900 (1,800)
Accrued benefit obligation, end of year 125,400 123,200
Unamortized gain (900) 11,700
Accrued benefit liability, end of year $ 124,500 $ 134,900

The accrued benefit liability is included as part of employee benefit obligations on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. The actuarial gain is amortized over a period equal to the employees’ average remaining service lifetime of 11 years.

The significant actuarial assumptions adopted in measuring the Town’s accrued benefit obligations are as follows:

2024 2023
Discount rates 4.30% 4.10%
Expected future inflation rates 3.00% 3.50%
Expected wage and salary increase 0.00% - 2.20% 0.00% - 2.20%

Municipal Pension Plan

The Town and its employees contribute to the Municipal Pension Plan (a jointly trusteed pension plan). The board of trustees, representing plan members and employers, is responsible for administering the plan, including investment of assets and administration of benefits. The plan is a multi-employer defined benefit pension plan. Basic pension benefits provided are based on a formula. As at December 31, 2023, the plan has about 256,000 active members and approximately 129,000 retired members. Active members include approximately 45,000 contributors from local governments.

Every three years, an actuarial valuation is performed to assess the financial position of the plan and adequacy of plan funding. The actuary determines an appropriate combined employer and member contribution rate to fund the plan. The actuary’s calculated contribution rate is based on the entry-age normal cost method, which produces the long-term rate of member and employer contributions sufficient to provide benefits for average future entrants to the plan. This rate may be adjusted for the amortization of any actuarial funding surplus and will be adjusted for the amortization of any unfunded actuarial liability.

Employers participating in the plan record their pension expense as the amount of employer contributions made during the fiscal year (defined contribution pension plan accounting). This is because the plan records accrued liabilities and accrued assets for the plan in aggregate, resulting in no consistent and reliable basis for allocating the obligation, assets and cost to the individual employers participating in the plan.

The most recent actuarial valuation for the Municipal Pension Plan as at December 31, 2021, indicated a $3,761 million funding surplus for basic pension benefits on a going concern basis.

The Town paid $415,258 (2023 - $328,989) for employer contributions while Town employees contributed $355,780 (2023 - $284,205) to the plan in fiscal 2024.

The next valuation will be as at December 31, 2024.

9. Tangible capital assets

a) Assets under construction and completed assets not yet in service

Assets under construction totaling $768,661 (2023 - $1,524,386) have not been amortized. Amortization of these assets will commence when the asset is put into service.

b) Contributed tangible capital assets

Contributed tangible capital assets have been recognized at fair market value at the date of contribution. The value of contributed capital assets received during the year is $nil (2023 - $nil).

c) Gain or loss on disposal of tangible capital assets

During the year, the Town recognized a net loss of $63,566 on disposal of tangible capital assets (2023 - $29,388 loss). This amount is included as gain (loss) of revenue on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

10. Accumulated surplus

Accumulated surplus consists of individual fund surplus and reserve funds as follows:

Surplus 2024 2023
Equity in tangible capital assets $ 119,662,495 $ 118,108,469
Appropriated surplus - casino revenue 4,628,773 4,751,391
Appropriated surplus - Community Works Fund (Note 11) 1,915,247 2,350,232
Appropriated surplus - other 1,181,400 605,797
Unrestricted accumulated surplus 8,409,814 7,043,418
135,797,729 132,859,307
Capital Renewal 1,864,669 1,162,286
Capital Works and Land Acquisition 1,538,966 1,412,971
Cash in lieu of Parking 521,335 -
Community Amenity Contributions 2,270,697 1,623,239
Fire Department Equipment 193,381 159,125
Future Operating Expenditures 1,465,086 1,244,334
Growing Communities (Note 12) 3,805,285 4,879,515
Machinery and Equipment Depreciation 219,031 288,161
Parks and Open Space 1,584,354 1,505,786
Parks Improvements 766,039 612,952
Police Equipment, Property and Contract 382,675 365,896
Police Operation and Maintenance 2,890,775 2,218,321
Sewer System Capital 1,201,652 1,509,998
West Shore Parks and Recreation Society reserves 369,275 361,178
19,073,220 17,343,762
Total accumulated surplus $ 154,870,949 $ 150,203,069

11. Community Works Fund

Community Works Fund is a component of the Gas Tax Agreement funding provided by the Government of Canada and administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Community Works Fund transfers are recorded as revenue when received, then held as reserves until spent on eligible expenditures.

2024 2023
Community Works Fund, beginning balance $ 2,350,232 $ 2,750,248
Amounts received during the year 590,466 538,584
Interest earned 123,873 142,003
Amounts allocated to projects during the year (1,149,324) (1,080,603)
Ending balance $ 1,915,247 $ 2,350,232

12. Growing Communities Fund: Reserve Funds

The Province of British Columbia distributed conditional Growing Communities Fund (GCF) grants to communities at the end of March 2023 to help local governments build community infrastructure and amenities to meet the demands of population growth. The GCF provided a one-time total of $1 billion in grants to all 161 municipalities and 27 regional districts in British Columbia.

The Town of View Royal received $4,665,000 of GCF funding in March 2023.

Page 31–57
Growing Communities Fund 2024 2023
Balance, beginning of year $ 4,879,515 $ -
Amounts received during the year - 4,665,000
Interest earned 247,731 214,515
Eligible costs (1,321,961) -
Ending balance $ 3,805,285 $ 4,879,515

13. Capacity Funding for Local Government Housing Initiatives

The Government of British Columbia is providing $51 million in grant-based funding to help facilitate implementation and support local governments to meet new legislative requirements of Bill 44 Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act, Bill 46 Housing Statutes (Development Financing) Amendment Act, and Bill 47 Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act.

The Town of View Royal received $207,254 in January 2024.

Local Government Housing Initiatives Funding 2024 2023
Balance, beginning of year $ - $ -
Amounts received during the year 207,254 -
Eligible costs (14,975) -
Ending balance $ 192,279 $ -

14. Taxes for municipal purposes

Taxes 2024 2023
Property tax $ 21,473,363 $ 19,731,648
Grants in lieu of taxes 74,930 70,637
1% Utility tax 141,765 144,523
21,690,058 19,946,808
Less taxes levied for other authorities
School authorities 5,941,566 5,664,395
Capital Regional District 1,212,312 1,118,508
Capital Regional Hospital District 630,213 625,382
British Columbia Assessment Authority 181,613 174,825
British Columbia Transit 1,513,812 1,054,249
Municipal Finance Authority 1,014 1,000
9,480,530 8,638,359
Taxes for municipal purposes $ 12,209,528 $ 11,308,449

The Town is required to collect taxes on behalf of and transfer these amounts to the government agencies noted below. Taxes levied over or under the amounts requisitioned are recorded as accounts payable or receivable.

15. Gaming revenue

The Town has an agreement with the Province whereby 10% of the net gaming revenue from community casinos is to be paid to local governments. The Town also has a casino revenue sharing agreement with neighbouring municipalities whereby 55% of the revenue received from the Province in respect of the gaming facility situated within the Town is to be disbursed to these governments. This disbursement is netted against the gaming revenue in the consolidated financial statements for the Town as disclosed below.

Gaming revenue 2024 2023
Amounts received during the year $ 4,176,253 $ 4,360,712
Disbursements to partner municipalities (2,296,939) (2,398,392)
Net gaming revenue $ 1,879,314 $ 1,962,320

16. Government grants and transfers

2024 2023
Conditional transfers
Federal $ 734,754 $ 545,624
Provincial 2,627,110 6,811,962
Other agencies 91,385 162,441
3,453,249 7,520,027
Unconditional transfers
Small communities protection 368,200 344,000
Traffic fine revenue sharing 62,000 79,000
430,200 423,000
Total government grants and transfers $ 3,883,449 $ 7,943,027

17. Commitments and contingencies

a) The Capital Regional District ("CRD") debt, under provisions of the Local Government Act, is a direct, joint and several liability of the CRD and each member municipality within the CRD, including the Town.

b) The Town is a shareholder and member of the Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications Incorporated ("CREST") which provides centralized emergency communications, and related public safety information services to municipalities, regional districts, the provincial and federal governments and their agencies, and emergency service organizations throughout the Greater Victoria region and the Gulf Islands. Members’ obligations to share in funding ongoing operations and any additional costs relating to capital assets are to be contributed pursuant to a Members’ Agreement.

c) The Town is a defendant in various lawsuits. Whether claims are in progress or have yet to be initiated, the Town records an accrual in respect of legal claims that are likely to be successful and for which an amount is reasonably determinable.

d) Under borrowing arrangements with the MFA, the Town is required to lodge security by means of demand notes and interest bearing cash deposits based on the amount of the borrowing. As a condition of these borrowings, a portion of the debenture proceeds is withheld by the MFA as a debt reserve fund. These deposits are held by the MFA as security against the possibility of debt repayment default. If the debt is repaid without default, the deposits are refunded to the Town. At December 31, 2024 there were contingent demand notes of $204,201 (2023 - $204,201) and a contingent deposit of $106,362 (2023 - $102,782).

e) The Town entered into a long term contract with the Federal Government and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for the provision of police services. Under the terms of this contract, the Town is responsible for 70% of policing costs, which in 2025 are estimated to be $2,757,168 (2024 actual $1,853,682).

f) The Town has purchase orders in the amount of $631,819 open as at December 31, 2024 which have not been recorded. These amounts have been taken into account in the budget and will be recorded in the period the goods and services to which they relate are received.

g) On October 27, 2022 the Town of View Royal awarded a contract to Safetek Fire Apparatus of Abbotsford, BC in the amount of $975,221 USD, excluding taxes for the purpose of replacing one heavy rescue fire apparatus. Delivery of the fire truck is expected to occur in 2025.

18. Contaminated site

The Town owns one property not in productive use with levels of contamination exceeding current environmental standards. Testing of the contamination in 2003 found no known threats to human health or safety. The property is surrounded by the ocean and undeveloped crown-owned land with no current development applications. The property and surrounding crown-owned land were historically occupied by a plywood mill. Due to uncertainty regarding the future development of the surrounding property, the Town is unable to reasonably estimate what, if any, loss of future economic benefits will occur. As such no liability has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2024.

19. Financial plan

The financial plan amounts presented throughout these consolidated financial statements are audited and represent the five year financial plan bylaw (Bylaw No. 1132) approved by Council on May 7, 2024 consolidated with the proportional share of the budgeted operating revenue and expense of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society. The summary below reconciles the 2024 consolidated financial plan to the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

2024
Consolidated financial plan, 2024 surplus (deficit) $ -
Add:
Capital expenditures 8,777,156
Transfers to reserves 1,878,850
Transfers to surplus 2,732,404
Principal payments on debt 315,615
Less:
Transfers from equity in capital assets (3,258,275)
Transfers from reserves for operating (490,680)
Transfers from reserves for capital (2,869,161)
Transfers from surplus for operating (1,970,115)
Transfers from surplus for capital (3,905,048)
Financial plan annual surplus (deficit) $ 1,210,746

20. West Shore Parks and Recreation Society

a) Capital asset transfer

Page 31–57

The lands and facilities comprising the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre are owned by the member municipalities (the “Municipalities”) in their proportionate share, as specified in the Co-Owners’ Agreement. The Town became party to the agreement effective January 1, 2007. Future improvements are allocated among the partners as per the cost sharing formula in effect each year for each service or facility, as outlined in a Members’ Agreement. For 2024, the Town’s share of improvements purchased by the Society on its behalf is $199,063 (2023 - $256,813).

Because the cost sharing formula in the Members’ Agreement produces different cost shares for the members from year to year, there is a gain (loss) on the opening fund balances. In 2024, the Town recorded a loss of ($238,202) (2023 - loss of $227,220).

b) Consolidation

The participating Municipalities have each become members in the Society, which was incorporated to provide parks, recreation and community services to the Municipalities under contract. Under terms of an Operating, Maintenance and Management Agreement, the Society is responsible to equip, maintain, manage and operate the facilities located at the recreation centre.

Financial results and budget for the Society are consolidated into the Town’s financial statements proportionately, based on the cost sharing formula outlined in the Members’ Agreement. In 2024, the Town’s proportion for consolidation purposes was 12.707% (2023 - 13.210%). Condensed financial information for the Society is as follows:

2024 2023
Financial assets $ 6,319,372 $ 5,775,508
Financial liabilities 3,888,495 3,555,603
Net financial assets 2,430,877 2,219,905
Non-financial assets 1,716,367 1,673,134
Accumulated surplus 4,147,244 3,893,039
Revenues 9,643,960 9,659,065
Requisition for members 6,049,085 5,816,429
15,693,045 15,475,494
Expenses 15,438,840 14,863,678
Annual surplus (deficit) $ 254,205 $ 611,816

21. Segmented information

The Town is a diversified municipal organization that provides a wide range of services to its citizens. Town services are provided by departments and their activities reported separately. Certain functions that have been separately disclosed in the segmented information, along with the services they provide, are as follows:

a) General government services

The general government operations provide the functions of corporate administration, finance, human resources and legislative services and any other functions categorized as non-departmental.

b) Protective services

Protective Services includes the View Royal Fire Rescue which is a composite fire department responsible to provide fire suppression service, fire inspections of public buildings, and training and education of volunteer firefighters as well as the citizens of View Royal. In addition, it also includes policing provided by the RCMP, emergency planning, animal control and the maintenance and enforcement of building and construction bylaws as well as all other municipal bylaws. Fire protection services are provided to the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nation communities under contract.

c) Transportation services

Transportation services comprises a wide variety of services such as the annual maintenance of all municipally owned roads and bridges, sidewalks, street signage, boulevards, bus shelters, street lighting and traffic signals. Transportation also includes the design, inspection, and maintenance of the storm drain collection systems.

d) Environmental health services

Environmental health services includes solid waste collection and disposal as well as collection and disposal of liquid waste through the sanitary sewer service.

e) Development services

Development services include all land use, planning, and zoning issues in the Town.

f) Recreation and cultural services

Recreation and culture includes maintenance and development of all parks and green spaces within the Town as well as the Town's financial contribution to the services provided by the Greater Victoria Public Library and the Town’s portion of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society.

g) Consolidated schedules of segmented disclosure by service

Schedules 1 and 2 provide additional financial information for the foregoing functions. Certain allocation methodologies have been employed in the preparation of the segmented information. Taxation is apportioned based on budgeted taxation revenue as presented in the consolidated financial plan.

22. Comparative figures

Certain comparative figures have been restated to conform with the current year's presentation.

Page 31–57

Schedule 1: Consolidated Schedule of Segment Disclosure by Service

Year ended December 31, 2024

2024 General Government Services Protective Services Transportation Services Environmental Health Services Development Services Recreation and Cultural Services 2024 Actual 2024 Budget (Note 19)
Revenue
Taxation for municipal purposes $ 2,664,436 $ 4,664,672 $ 2,907,422 $ - $ 411,725 $ 1,561,273 $ 12,209,528 $ 12,241,375
User charges and sales of services 9,805 481,980 58,031 3,270,716 943,654 1,078,108 5,842,294 5,396,732
Investment income 1,367,707 150,563 174,195 131,355 120,742 114,880 2,059,442 465,000
Actuarial adjustments on debt - 143,633 - - - - 143,633 -
Penalties and fines 114,166 23,504 - - - - 137,670 69,000
Development charges earned - - 281,945 62,708 - 4,295 348,948 553,276
Contributions from developers and others - - - - 1,049,550 - 1,049,550 634,500
Other revenue from own sources 219,028 35,652 215,277 33,789 - - 503,746 319,696
Government grants and transfers 604,818 831,931 956,707 - 550,554 939,439 3,883,449 5,085,104
Gain (loss) on sale of tangible capital assets (Note 9) (11,783) (129) 8,946 (60,600) - - (63,566) -
Total revenue 4,968,177 6,331,806 4,602,523 3,437,968 3,076,225 3,697,995 26,114,694 24,764,683
Expense
Labour and benefits 1,840,098 2,777,961 738,082 59,843 607,686 1,705,919 7,729,589 7,410,322
Goods and services 954,201 2,668,712 2,096,914 2,490,601 102,155 1,578,723 9,891,306 12,646,578
Amortization 108,018 424,316 2,017,817 321,205 - 442,710 3,314,066 3,279,925
Change in proportionate share of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society - - - - - 245,655 245,655 -
Debt interest - 266,198 - - - - 266,198 217,112
Total expense 2,902,317 6,137,187 4,852,813 2,871,649 709,841 3,973,007 21,446,814 23,553,937
Surplus (deficit) $ 2,065,860 $ 194,619 $ (250,290) $ 566,319 $ 2,366,384 $ (275,012) $ 4,667,880 $ 1,210,746
Page 31–57

Schedule 2: Consolidated Schedule of Segment Disclosure by Service

Year ended December 31, 2024

2023 General Government Services Protective Services Transportation Services Environmental Health Services Development Services Recreation and Cultural Services 2023 Actual 2023 Budget
Revenue
Taxation for municipal purposes $ 2,343,439 $ 4,253,851 $ 2,871,975 $ - $ 402,008 $ 1,437,176 $ 11,308,449 $ 11,318,193
User charges and sales of services 10,732 480,170 94,022 3,063,964 474,552 1,007,528 5,130,968 4,829,587
Investment income 1,325,588 135,177 144,592 133,628 50,711 103,992 1,893,688 115,000
Actuarial adjustments on debt - 134,316 - - - - 134,316 -
Penalties and fines 74,846 14,676 - - - - 89,522 76,000
Development charges earned - - 199,710 3,648 - 21,728 225,086 722,345
Contributions from developers and others 3,000 - - - 910,350 - 913,350 1,018,000
Other revenue from own sources 111,821 57,725 103,275 2,432 - 116,184 391,437 307,580
Government grants and transfers 5,516,280 492,545 610,392 - 121,024 1,202,786 7,943,027 8,237,209
Gain (loss) on sale of tangible capital assets (Note 9) (539) (21,233) (7,616) - - - (29,388) -
Total revenue 9,385,167 5,547,227 4,016,350 3,203,672 1,958,645 3,889,394 28,000,455 26,623,914
Expense
Labour and benefits 1,692,725 2,170,870 634,082 58,478 477,263 1,624,705 6,658,123 6,607,304
Goods and services 1,120,851 3,148,363 2,211,275 2,330,250 49,917 1,516,381 10,377,037 11,616,890
Amortization 81,738 417,953 1,951,453 297,919 - 415,371 3,164,434 3,223,099
Change in proportionate share of West Shore Parks and Recreation Society - - - - - 227,220 227,220 -
Debt interest - 217,112 - - - - 217,112 217,112
Total expense 2,895,314 5,954,298 4,796,810 2,686,647 527,180 3,783,677 20,643,926 21,664,405
Surplus (deficit) $ 6,489,853 $ (407,071) $ (780,460) $ 517,025 $ 1,431,465 $ 105,717 $ 7,356,529 $ 4,959,509
Page 31–57

Schedule 3: Consolidated Schedule of Tangible Capital Assets

Year ended December 31, 2024

Land Land Improvements Buildings Vehicles, Machinery & Equipment Engineering Structures: Roads Engineering Structures: Drainage Engineering Structures: Sewer Work in Progress West Shore 2024 2023
Cost
Balance, beginning $ 43,479,637 $ 6,548,841 $ 10,811,972 $ 9,546,208 $ 63,270,138 $ 22,825,615 $ 12,824,259 $ 1,524,386 $ 10,022,469 $ 180,853,525 $ 178,617,268
Additions - 83,826 51,051 1,322,416 3,410,559 366,947 30,007 281,444 244,782 5,791,032 3,222,520
Disposals or write-downs - - (106,881) (229,089) - - - (314,395) - (650,365) (544,057)
Completed during year - - - - - - - (1,037,169) - (1,037,169) (442,206)
Balance, ending 43,479,637 6,632,667 10,756,142 10,639,535 66,680,697 23,192,562 12,854,266 768,661 9,952,856 184,957,023 180,853,525
Accumulated amortization
Balance, beginning - 3,467,353 3,605,184 5,183,726 33,063,514 5,965,424 3,813,711 - 3,570,964 $ 58,669,876 $ 55,785,691
Current year amortization - 278,570 221,651 552,920 1,640,853 270,970 136,466 - 212,636 3,314,066 3,164,434
Accumulated amortization on disposals or write-downs - - (37,281) (199,323) - - - - (68,746) (305,350) (280,249)
Balance, ending - 3,745,923 3,789,554 5,537,323 34,704,367 6,236,394 3,950,177 - 3,714,854 61,678,592 58,669,876
Net book value $ 43,479,637 $ 2,886,744 $ 6,966,588 $ 5,102,212 $ 31,976,330 $ 16,956,168 $ 8,904,089 $ 768,661 $ 6,238,002 $ 123,278,431 $ 122,183,649
Page 31–57

Document Images

(2)
Document image
Document image
Extracted from: 2025 05 13 Council Agenda - Agenda - Pdf