2022-2026 RDCO Financial Plan approved

The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) Board has approved the 2022 – 2026 Financial Plan.

RDCO Budget

The 2022 RDCO operating budget totals just over $59-million, up 2.5% from 2021.

Regional Board Chair Loyal Wooldridge says, “This year’s budget prioritizes the ongoing support needed for those recovering from last summer’s devastating White Rock Lake wildfire and to bolster the regional emergency management program. The Board is advancing the important work of Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous communities to embed Indigenous wisdom into the organization. Operating costs are responsible, keeping pace with growth and inflation and include some key staffing additions needed to meet service demand from residents.”

In this budget an estimated $16.9 million (down $2.42 million from 2021) in capital and infrastructure improvements are proposed including approximately:

• $7.5-milllion for Parks
• $4.1-million for liquid waste systems
• $2.1-million for Fire and Protective Services
• $1.7 million for improvements and upgrades to RDCO water systems

“We know park space and natural areas support the health of our residents and it is our responsibility to ensure they are protected and resilient in the face of climate change. Our regional parks management plans make our natural areas more accessible and protect ecosystems. The continued investment into the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and funding water system upgrades to continue to provide safe drinking water in our communities,” added Wooldridge.

Unlike municipalities, the Regional District does not collect taxes directly. It requisitions funds from each local government on behalf of their residents and the Province which collects rural property taxes in each electoral area.

The tax impacts for general RDCO services on the average home in each specific area are shown in the following table. Market value increases vary by area from 2021. The actual tax rate varies from neighbourhood to neighbourhood and by municipality, depending on the level of funding participation and local services provided by the Regional District.

 

Member	2022 avg. house value	Total tax per avg. house	Net Incr / (Decr) on the home from 2021
Kelowna	$835,598	$220.62	$14.34
Lake Country	$927,126	$247.95	$17.32
Peachland	$823,126	$217.95	$22.96
West Kelowna	$889,866	$238.69	$18.50
C.O. East	$852,036	$478.51	$60.85
C.O. West	$493,724	$303.02	$35.57

Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District

The Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District (CORHD) Board also approved its Five Year Financial Plan.  Each year, ratepayers within the Hospital District contribute up to 40% of the funds for approved capital and equipment services. The 2022 budget includes $39.3 million in capital project funding requested by Interior Health Authority, an increase of $9.5-million or 41% from 2021.  Among the new requests for Hospital District funding: a pharmacy update at Kelowna General Hospital, replacement of an existing MRI unit and installation of an additional MRI and a new CT scanner.

Hospital Board Chair Loyal Wooldridge says, “Health care continues to be extremely important for Central Okanagan residents. Funding provided by the Regional Hospital Board supports a wide range of health care capital projects and provides much needed health care equipment in the Central Okanagan. On behalf of the Regional Hospital Board, I would like to thank the many health care workers tirelessly supporting our community, and we look forward to supporting ongoing projects that help them deliver the best possible care for their patients and clients.”

The significant rise in assessments across the region will result in a decrease of $19.45 in the requisition this year by the Hospital District.  That means the average property owner in the Central Okanagan will contribute $169.48 toward funding of health projects in the region, a decrease of just over 10% from 2021. It is expected that the average household cost will rise over the next four years to continue providing adequate reserves for future Interior Health funding requests.

Homeowner grants and tax deferral

Central Okanagan property owners may be eligible for the Provincial Homeowner Grant. Information will be available on your Property Tax Notice or visit the Ministry of Finance website:  www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/individuals/Property_Taxes/Home_Owner_Grant/hog.htm

Some property owners may qualify for assistance through the BC Property Tax Deferment Program.  Information about this program and who qualifies is available on the BC Government website:  www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-taxes

 For more information on Regional District of Central Okanagan budgeting visit rdco.com/budgets.

(Financial Plan backgrounder below)

Lyle Smith – Financial Services director – 250-469-6219

RDCO Financial Plan Backgrounder

The Regional District of Central Okanagan is one of 27 regional districts, unique to the Province of BC.

The Central Okanagan is composed of four municipalities, two unincorporated electoral areas and Westbank First Nation:

• Kelowna
• West Kelowna
• Lake Country
• Peachland
• Central Okanagan East
• Central Okanagan West
• Westbank First Nation

Based on population, municipal councils appoint the elected representatives to the Regional Board, while residents in the electoral areas directly elect one Director each to represent them. Westbank First Nation Chief and Council appoint a non-voting representative to the Board.

The Regional Board determines how local services will be financed and has outlined its Strategic Priorities, providing staff direction on implementing this vision.

Regional Districts differ from municipalities because they don’t have just one tax rate. The RDCO has more than 80 individual services provided and paid for by different combinations of taxpayers. For specific taxation per average home see table above.

Municipalities within the RDCO

The member municipalities receive a basket of 18 – 20 general regional services like:

• Economic Development
• Regional Parks
• Dog Control
• 9-1-1
• Regional Rescue/Emergency Planning.

These services account for a relatively small share of the total average tax bill for property owners ranging from just over $217 in West Kelowna to slightly more than $248 in Lake Country.

Electoral Areas

The Regional District is also the local government for residents in the two electoral areas providing them with 29 general services such as:

• Fire Prevention
• Planning
• Community Parks
• Building Inspection
• Bylaw Enforcement

These services account for average taxes of $478.51 for property owners in the Central Okanagan East Electoral Area and $303.02 for those in the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area.

Specific communities within the electoral areas also fund additional services received from four paid-on-call fire departments, three community halls and six water systems that provide drinking water to more than 1,000 properties.

Westbank First Nation

Westbank First Nation also receives several services from the Regional District including:

• Regional Parks
• Regional Rescue
• Economic Development
• Okanagan Basin Water Board

Cost sharing for Regional District services is based on the assessed value of properties in accordance with a service agreement.