The District of Squamish has given the 2025-2029 budget its first three readings, but what did the community most want to see included in the new five year financial plan?
In late November, council received a Budget Engagement - What We Heard report which detailed the public's feedback on priorities for the future.
What topped the list?
The fall budget engagement kicked off on Oct. 1 and wrapped up on Nov. 20 following the Budget Open House.
According to the report there was a total of 303 comments, “questions and letters were recorded from residents and community groups throughout the engagement period, as well as community organizations who submitted formal budget responses.”
Topping the list of public requests was additional funding and support to reopen or expand access for kiteboarding.
The District made the announcement on Oct. 16 that it had implemented a permanent ban on kiteboarding at Sp’akw’us Feather Park.
The restriction came as a result of a District investigation into the safety of the sport at the park following the death of North Vancouver resident Gray Taylor, who died while kiteboarding in Squamish on Canada Day.
Around 30% of the people who participated in the public engagement requested the support of kiteboarding, which they say can no longer be accessed in Squamish during the off-season due to the ban.
Requests for investments in recreation and culture services and facilities came in second with 23% of responses.
The report revealed that the community requested a “second ice rink; arts facilities and programs funding; lawn bowling; swimming pool capacity concerns and playground requests within Brennan Park area neighbourhoods.”
Around 11% of resident responses included concerns over the impending 9.6% jump in taxes in 2025 to meet the District’s total revenue requirement of $46,934,788.
“Tax increase is challenging and unaffordable; ‘needs not wants’ should be prioritized,” reads the report.
About 8% of the public asked for “improved local transit frequency and regional service” and also had “concerns of downtown paid parking impacts.”
Lastly, 7% of the public felt a “need for affordable and diverse housing options” with concerns that “developers are not contributing enough to affordable housing and other community amenities”.
They also voiced that they would like services and support for small businesses and grant writing support.
Since the public engagement period ended, one amendment has been made to the 2025-2029 budget and that is to reduce the Public Works Facility budget from $38.3 million to $37.9 million. This decision was made at the Nov. 19 regular business meeting.
Councillor comments
At the special business meeting on Dec. 10, all seven councillors voted to support the first three readings of the budget.
Mayor Armand Hurford noted that he was “quite proud” of the District’s asset management plan from the budget.
“I think some highlights here for me are [the] overarching pieces, [like] large investments in public safety. Some of those we had a choice in, like expansion at the fire service and others are an increased investment driven by contract negotiation, say with the RCMP,” he said.
“As well as being prepared for the future, we've got … contributions to our asset management plan, which I think is really important and I'm quite proud of this council’s support of that particular initiative, as it is well outside a four year election cycle—which is often the driver for many initiatives.”
Coun. Jenna Stoner thanked the members of the public who took part in the budget engagement this year.
“I just want to thank folks again for coming out to the open house, responding online, providing feedback on surveys and coming to the coffee with council. There were some really fruitful discussions there,” Stoner said.
On the tax rise, she noted that the 9.6% budget increase was a “big ask of our community” but the infrastructure investment to come would be worthwhile.
“A 9.6% budget increase this year, with a 10.5% average increase over the next five years is a lot to ask of folks, especially in a time where we are all feeling the pinch. But I think it's important to recognize that a lot of that increase is actually driven by the things that we're all feeling, inflationary pressures,” she said.
“The 2025 budget has over $50 million in capital investment in our core infrastructure. So I hope that the community hears us loud and clear that we are making those investments in both the dollars that we're putting forward, but also in a really conscious way to make sure that it is planned for and responsive to the growth that we're seeing in our community.”
Coun. Chris Pettingill encouraged residents to remember that Squamish is in the lower tax rates bracket in comparison with other areas.
“I've said it a few times, but I think it bears repeating—we have had, compared to other communities in general, lower tax rates overall. We've typically been in the bottom third; and so when you build an average increase ... on top of that, overall historically, we're still lower,” Pettingill said.
“But in that year, [when] the change happens, which is this year, it still feels like a bigger jump, especially when you're used to a lower number.
“When I run the numbers, we're asking from the average existing taxpayer, an extra $29 a month with all of the expenses that people are facing and all the other increases, it can be a challenging pill to swallow, but I sort of wonder why.
“When I look at monthly gross grocery bill changes, or interest rates on your mortgage and so on, they far out strip typically $29 a month, and we're dealing with many of the same cost increases. So all things considered from that perspective, I think we've really managed to contain these costs,” he said.
He also urged locals to remember that councilors and District staff are all taxpayers and feel the brunt of the increase too.
“I want to remind everyone that around this table, we are taxpayers, either directly as homeowners, or indirectly, as renters. So we feel this the same as everyone else, and this is our best attempt looking at all the competing priorities and challenges of figuring out how we move forward as a community,” he said.
The 2025-2029 budget will return to council for adoption.
To see what is in the budget go to the District’s webpage.
