City of Chilliwack Glen Savard, CPA, CGA Director of Finance
The Community Charter requires all municipalities to adopt a Financial Plan on an annual basis City prepares a 10 year Comprehensive Municipal Plan Identifies and plans for anticipated operational and capital needs well in advance That allows: Council to prioritize operational and capital budgetary items Planning and savings strategy to fund capital priorities without municipal borrowing debt
Property Taxation Property taxation represents the largest source of revenue for the City 72% Licenses, Permits, Penalties and Fines 3% Return on Investment 1% Government Grants and Transfers 6% Other 0% Sales of Services 18% Property Taxation & PILT's 72%
Property Tax Distribution - 64% -general taxes that remain with the City - 36% levied on behalf of and remitted to other levels of Gov t - School tax - Province 31% FVRHD 2% FVRD 2% City of Chilliwack 64% BC Assessment & Other 1% School Taxes 31%
Municipal Property Tax Distribution Environmental Development 1% Parks & Recreation & Culture 22% Fiscal Services 6% General Gov't 9% Police 32% Transportation and Operations 18% Other Protective 1% Fire 10%
Proposed Financial Plan Meets the City s Commitments Maintains and re-invests in the City s infrastructure Maintains or enhances service levels to the community Plans for anticipated community needs Funds capital projects without debt in accordance with the City s payas-you-go, no-debt policy
Proposed Property Tax Increase 2019 3.43%
Proposed Property Tax Increase 3.43% Along with new growth revenues, the tax increase funds projected inflationary and non-discretionary items with limited budget flexibility Negotiated labour costs City contracts (ie. RCMP, Transit, Libraries, Recreation Facilities) Routine repairs and maintenance of City infrastructure Operation of City Facilities
Further Funds: Public Safety Additions 6 additional RCMP members 2 additional policing support position 2 additional Firefighters Conversion of 2 Bylaw Enforcement Officers Seasonal to full-time, year-round
Further Funds: Community Cleanliness Resource funding Ongoing clean-up of City property in downtown area Sidewalks, roadways, garbage receptacles Additional garbage clean-up servicing in parks Weekend service
DEPARTMENTAL PLAN HIGHLIGHTS
Policing Represents 32% of property tax allocation 2019 Resource Additions 6 additional members 2 support staff Response to reduce crime trends and high officer case loads Input and feedback from the community to invest in public safety
Fire Protection Represents 10% of property tax allocation 2019 Firefighter Additions 2 additional members Continuation of phased Firefighter addition plan to fully staff Hall 1 and 4
Bylaw Enforcement Convert 2 P-T seasonal Bylaw Enforcement Officers Seasonal to full-time, year-round City experiencing greater community expectations Demand for enhanced services, including evening and weekend service Will provide this enhanced service Able to assist with downtown patrols
Engineering Road Rehabilitation Program Road asphalt resurfacing 2019 Funding - $3.3M Priority roads based on: Pavement Quality Index (PQI) Timing coordination with other capital service works
COMMUNITY TAXATION COMPARATIVES
Taxation Comparatives Comparative data provided by the Local Government Infrastructure branch of the Province Separates all components of taxation and other charges to allow for consistent and reliable comparisons between local governments
Lower Mainland Tax Comparison General Taxes per Representative Home Source: Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development West Vancouver Port Moody Vancouver New Westminster North Vancouver (City) North Vancouver (District) Richmond Burnaby Coquitlam Average Lions Bay Delta Port Coquitlam Maple Ridge Abbotsford Mission Langley (City) Pitt Meadows Langley (District) Surrey Chilliwack $767 $0 $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $3,000 $3,500 $4,000 $4,500 $5,000
Lower Mainland Tax Comparison Total Taxes and fees per Representative Home Source: Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development West Vancouver Lions Bay Vancouver North Vancouver (District) Burnaby New Westminster Port Moody Richmond North Vancouver (City) Average Coquitlam Delta Surrey Maple Ridge Port Coquitlam Langley (District) Mission Langley (City) Pitt Meadows Abbotsford Chilliwack $1951 $1,000 $2,000 $3,000 $4,000 $5,000 $6,000 $7,000 $8,000 $9,000 $10,000 $11,000
Lower Mainland Tax Comparison Business Class Multiple (Ratio to Residential Rates) Source: Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coquitlam Burnaby Vancouver North Vancouver New Westminster North Vancouver (City) Port Coquitlam Delta Langley (District) Mission Average Richmond Pitt Meadows Surrey Maple Ridge Port Moody West Vancouver Lions Bay Langley (City) Abbotsford Chilliwack 60% 1.25 1.75 2.25 2.75 3.25 3.75 4.25 4.75 5.25
Taxation Summary Chilliwack maintains the lowest taxation levels While providing excellent facilities, amenities and services No-debt capital financing policy a contributing factor Always looking to balance the needs of the community while maintaining reasonable taxation levies
Taxation vs Property Assessments Often a misconception that increased property assessments automatically create increased property taxation for the City Is not the case Tax mill rates are adjusted for assessment inflation Rates adjusted annually Adjusted downwards when average assessments experience increases Adjusted upwards when average assessments experience decreases City property taxation collected Equal to amount of taxation collected in previous year plus current increase
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS
Community Budget Engagement Opportunities The City provided 2 opportunities for community budget engagement Tax notice insert survey (June/July) Online Engagement survey (November/December) Surveys used as a tool Provide Council with feedback and input from the community Considerations in prioritizing and balancing needs of the community Supplements feedback Council receives on an ongoing basis
Community Engagement Ranking Service Importance (10 very important, 1 not important) Average Rating Policing 8.2 Fire Protection 7.9 Bylaw/Other Protective Services 6.3 Roads and Transportation 7.3 Parks and Trails 6.2 Social / Homeless Issues 6.7 Recreation and Cultural Facilities 5.7 Transit 5.9 Bicycle Networks 4.9 Community Events 5.1 Flood Protection 7.2
Community Engagement Tax Allocation Departmental Services Lower Same More Policing 7% 43% 50% Fire Protection 5% 68% 27% Other Protective Services 7% 62% 31% Transportation, Public Transit, Operations 16% 46% 38% Parks, Recreation and Culture 25% 57% 18%
Community Engagement Results Generally consistent with those received in past surveys Protective Services ranked generally high overall by respondents Policing - high ranking for importance and higher taxation allocation Other services varied results Expected based on individuals differing interests and preferences
Proposed Financial Plan Meets the City s commitments Maintains and re-invests in the City s infrastructure Maintains or enhances service levels to the community Plans for anticipated community needs Funds capital projects without debt in accordance with the City s pay-as-you-go no-debt policy
Community Feedback Financial Plan Schedules Available on City website www.chilliwack.com/budget Public Meeting Tuesday January 22, 2019 7:00 p.m. Comments can be sent/e-mailed to Mayor and Council E-mail to budget@chilliwack.com
City of Chilliwack Glen Savard, CPA, CGA Director of Finance