Budget 2020

Please note that the 2020 Budget Consultation Period has now closed. Thank you very much to all who participated for your valuable feedback. For more information on the approved 2020 Budget, including the impacts of the COVID-19, please see this summary.

The City is looking to engage with residents about the 2020 budget, as we plan for our next five-year budget cycle from 2020 to 2024. We have a busy five years ahead, with major infrastructure renewal on the agenda. Each budget season, we work hard to balance our community's many needs and priorities, while continuing to maintain service levels.

The City's proposed operational budget for 2020 was presented at the February 24th Council meeting, with public consultations scheduled for March 9th and 23rd of this year. Budget information for the 2020 Budget season is not only shared through Council and in the previously noted formal consultations. We are also engaging the public through the use of our online engagement platform, and paper surveys, with results shared with Council before the budget is formally adopted.

On this page, learn more about key budget timelines and processes, view documents, videos, access frequently asked questions, and answer questions the City has about upcoming budget priorities.

For historical budget documents, including the City's financial statements, visit our Financial Section of the City's website.

Click here for archived information on last year's 2019 Budget Consultation.

What is in this year's budget?

This year’s budget proposes no increase to the residential mill rate, increasing the paving budget to $1 million this year (up over 100% over the past two years), and setting aside remaining funds to cover anticipated debt associated with a new RCMP station.

Highlights of the 2020 budget include:

• No increase to mill rates
• Increase in paving budget to $1 million
• Initiation of dam construction and new landfill cell rock removal
• Renewal of the City’s Official Community Plan
• Includes an increase in grants to community organizations
• Budget surplus to be allocated for future RCMP replacement debt

To enable staff to pursue capital investments earlier in the year, the following list of capital works and purchases were also approved in December:

• Camera and mapping of the pipe network connected to one of our Sewer outfalls in preparation for concentrating collection to enable treatment;
• The completion of the leachate lagoon at the landfill;
• Boiler replacement at the Recreation complex;
• Acquisition of a new solid waste truck with recycling capacity;

Finance also presented loan authorization bylaws for lending to be undertaken in 2020 so that the City can initiate borrowing to complete the dam replacement project, and to build a new landfill cell. Both of these projects, too, are anticipated to have no impact to property owners, thanks to new revenues and past financial planning. For more information on loan authorizations, and how you can support Council in undertaking necessary lending, check out the Powerpoint presentation given by staff, and available in the "Documents" section of this page (on the right hand side of this page).

How can I learn more/participate in the 2020 Budget process?

The Proposed 5 Year Financial Plan document, outlining the proposed budget, will be available on the City’s website, in the "Documents" section of this landing page, and at the front desk of City Hall, the Library and the Recreation Complex after March 3rd.

Public Budget consultations will also be held March 9^th and 23^rd at 7:00 pm in Council Chambers, in advance of the Regular Council Meetings, where the public is invited to attend and speak to budget priorities.

NOTE REGARDING IMPACTS OF COVID 19 ON SECOND BUDGET CONSULTATION

Provincial Ministries are currently considering new standards around public meetings. Should Provincial Orders change, this notice may need to be amended to reflect those changes.

The City is taking additional health-related precautions as per health authority guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City’s final public budget consultation continues to be scheduled for the upcoming March 23rd meeting, however we are strongly encouraging the public to access Council Meetings through alternative means, as per Provincial directives to stay home and social distance until further notice.

Although the City is required to keep scheduled Council meetings open to the public as per Section 89 of the Community Charter, we would like to encourage members of the public to use alternative means listed below for your own health and safety, and to follow Provincial Orders. Tthe City must comply with the Province’s requirements for social distancing and maximum number of attendees at meetings (which is currently at 50). Pursuant to section 133 of the Community Charter, any person who violates the Provincial Order for social distancing or acting improperly will be expelled from the meeting.

Listed below are alternative measures being offered for you to share your feedback on the 2020 Budget, and to tune in to local Council meetings.

Step 1: Tune in to Citywest Channel 10 live or online via our website at www.princerupert.ca/live to watch the scheduled meeting at 7pm, March 23rd

Step 2: Following the presentation from Chief Financial Officer, Corinne Bomben, you may call in any questions by phone during the meeting to (250) 627 0935

Other options for feedback:
1. You may also email questions to finance@princerupert.ca through to March 27th.
2. Residents may also still participate in the budget survey available through Rupert Talks at: https://engage.princerupert.ca/budget-2020 .

All questions and answers, as well as survey results will be provided to City Council in advance of their consideration of the 2020 Budget.

We thank the public for their cooperation in assisting us to follow all Provincial Orders and recommendations, and for your understanding during this time.