Saanich property owners will face a 7.19 per cent increase in taxes after council adopted its 2023 budget Monday night.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the $170-million operating budget, which will mean a $229 increase for the average property owner.
“I believe this budget puts Saanich on a very strong footing moving forward, against a backdrop of the challenges created by inflation and labour shortages,” said Mayor Dean Murdock.
Council has said the budget, which includes $10.78 million in added spending, will deliver on the district’s strategic priorities without putting too much additional burden on property taxpayers.
The Saanich police budget will rise $1.8 million to $40.6 million. The district’s budget also includes $4.8 million for park, playground, trail and other park infrastructure replacement, $4.8 million for business systems upgrades and $1.5 million for information technology infrastructure.
The district took steps to save about $1.2 million, including using money normally set aside for vacant positions on the municipal payroll, changing the way the district finances its information technology upgrade program, deferring for one year an extra $150,000 for park acquisition and changing the way the district funds the active transportation plan.
The district’s capital budget for 2023 is $95 million, an increase of $2.6 million from last year.
The capital budget includes $76.7 million to fund maintenance and renewal of existing facilities and infrastructure and another $18.3 million for new facilities, technology and transportation initiatives.
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