Councillors voted Tuesday night to approve $12.8 million in additional spending this year.
The average Saanich homeowner is expected to face a tax increase of $271 this year after municipal councillors voted Tuesday night to approve $12.8 million in additional spending this year.
Council was unanimous in approving this year’s budget, which will include an increase in funding for Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, a one-time grant for Spectrum School’s turf field project and new funding for staff resources, including establishing the position of manager of diversity and equity.
The budget means Saanich residents face a 7.91 per cent tax increase this year.
The $190-million operating budget includes:
• $47.1 million for Saanich police, a 9.7 per cent increase over 2023
• $6.7 million for Saanich’s share of the Greater Victoria Public Library budget, an increase of 5.6 per cent
• A $69,602 increase in the management fee for Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, bringing that contribution to $457,250
More than $5.7 million in one-time funding requests were met in the budget through a $6-million surplus from last year’s budget. The surplus was the result of operational savings and higher-than-expected returns on investment due to the higher interest rate environment.
About 1.6 per cent of the 7.93 per cent tax increase is due to the inflationary cost increase of materials and supplies, while 1.3 per cent is attributed to increased labour costs.
Saanich’s capital budget this year will jump to $126 million from $95 million in 2023.
The capital budget includes nearly $50 million for facilities like a new fire hall and planning for the Saanich operations centre. Thers is also ongoing spending to renew transportation infrastructure, upgrading water resources and the district’s equipment and vehicles.
aduffy@timescolonist.com