Saanich homeowners face $116 tax bump as sewage costs grow

CRD sewer charges up almost 31 per cent; group calls for new budgeting process

The average Saanich homeowner will be asked to pay $116 more in property taxes this year, boosting the total to $3,548, according to the draft budget under consideration by Saanich council.

Taxpayers will see a significant boost in sewer costs due to a Capital Regional District boost of nearly 31 per cent as a result of operational cost increases and regional sewage treatment. Of the total taxes, $437 is for sewer; $513 for water and $173 for garbage collection.

The total budget for Saanich, the largest municipality on Vancouver Island, is projected at $251.5 million, said finance director Val Tinney. Of that, the operating budget, including salaries for municipal employees, accounts for $136.3 million, capital expenses for $59.3 million, and sewer, water and utilities expenditures for $55.9 million.

Saanich employs nearly 1,600 people with a full-time equivalence of 1,080, according to the municipality’s 2016-2020 financial plan.

Several decisions and meetings related to the budgeting process have yet to take place, including approval of community grants and the police communications levy.

A January 2015 survey of 603 households and 300 businesses found that 89 per cent agree they receive good value for their tax dollars, with the percentage that strongly agree, rising to 27 per in 2015, compared with 20 per cent in 2006.

But Stan Bartlett, the chair of Grumpy Taxpayer$ of Greater Victoria, said the figures are out of date. He said the current tax increase is double the rate of inflation.

“The ground has shifted and the public mood has shifted,” Bartlett said.

Last year’s increase was $94 per property — an increase of 4.23 per cent.

The non-profit organization is urging Saanich to adopt “a zerobased budgeting process where all expenses must be justified for each new year … and every function within its organization analyzed for needs and costs.”

Key expenditures outlined by Tinney in the budget document include:

• $9.6 million to continue replacement of asbestos in sewer and water mains

• $5.89 million to replace Wilkinson Bridge, of which $4.9 million will be funded by gas-tax revenues

• $3.48 million in sidewalk improvements such as 800 metres on Tillicum Road

• $2.38 million for park, playground and trail infrastructure

• $1.53 million on improvements to bus stops, traffic signals and street lights

• $1.3 million for information technology, vehicles and other capital replacement costs for police and fire services

• $1 million for IT network upgrade

• $900,000 to replace the Tolmie sewer pump station

• $750,000 for IT infrastructure upgrades

The deadline for passing the budget is May 15.