The 2018 draft budget for the Squamish-Lillooet Regional has been published, showing a proposed increase in taxes for general government operations and land planning alongside rising staff salaries.
It’s important to note that this is a draft and will be subject to change in the coming months, especially as the regional district deliberates more on the budget during the spring.
However, it can be useful to have a first glance to look at the general direction the regional district may be moving in.
There appear to be tax and spending increases in certain areas.
Taxes for general government services are expected to increase by $131,528. That would bring total taxation to $1,015,924 up from the $884,396 that was expected for this year.
This department also has its sights on completing a number of large projects, some of which are summarized below.
Land planning and zoning taxes will rise by $56,810. The total amount of taxes raised for these services will increase to $320,878, up from the $264,068 expected for this year.
Two items falling under that category may be of interest to those living in Britannia Beach, as they are related to developments proposed for the area.
Listed on the budget for the land-planning department is money for the Taicheng lands and Britannia Oceanfront.
The Taicheng lands are owned by the Taicheng Development Corporation,
which is planning to create a 1,000-home development in Britannia Beach south. This includes the gravel pit south of the mining museum, the former Makin lands and some of the land leading to the top of Furry Creek.
Staff are budgeting $184,877 for next year in zoning and land planning costs for Taicheng.
This amount is a carryover from money that was set aside for use this year. Previously, the SLRD had budgeted $194,674 for 2017, but have only used $9,796 to date.
The next item is Britannia Oceanfront, a development being proposed by Macdonald Development.
Dozens of residential and commercial units are expected to be built in front of the mine museum.
More than $49,000 will be set aside for this development’s planning and zoning costs.
The budget also includes increases in salaries for the SLRD’s workers.
This cost is expected to go up because of compensation reviews, inflation and benefits.
For example, the total money going to workers in the general government services department is expected to rise to $957,906 in 2018 up from the $798,590 expected for this year.
Budget increases for salaries will also occur for those working at the zoning and land planning department — $408,398 up from $362,152 — and the environmental services department will go up as well to $431,731 up from $385,986.
