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A calculator, project chart, and drawing with a pencil sitting on top, appearing as someone making a budget.

Regional District budgeting is unlike municipal government budgeting, with several notable differences:

  • Every service provided by the regional district requires its own budget which identify the full cost to deliver the service.
  • Each service has its own tax rate and service area, so the taxes paid are dependent on where you live in and which services are available to your area.
  • Funds cannot be transferred between services of differing areas.
  • Regional District assessment property class multipliers are set by the Province.
  • The Regional District is not a taxing authority and therefore, does not collect taxes.

Budget Process

The Community Charter requires local governments to approve a five-year Financial Plan Bylaw each year by the end of March. The Financial Plan is also referred to as the Budget. Generally, the annual budget is prepared through the following process:

  1. Each fall the CRD creates budgets for each of its services based on anticipated activities and priorities.
  2. Finance compiles all these budgets to make a draft financial plan.
  3. The draft financial plan is reviewed and approved by the CRD Board.
  4. The plan is revised based on public input and Board priorities until a final version is approved.
  5. The final version allows us to develop the Financial Plan Bylaw.
  6. The Financial Plan Bylaw must be adopted no later than March 31.

In the Financial Plan Bylaw, we set the property tax revenue we need for each service. This forms the basis for your taxation rates for the year. The CRD Board may amend the financial plan by bylaw at any time during the five-year period.

Learn more about the relationship between property assessments and property taxes, or view this helpful video provided by BC Assessment.

Budget Feedback

As part of preparing the Financial Plan, we seek out resident and stakeholder feedback on the proposed levels of spending, taxation, and methods of financing for various initiatives and services. Our budget consultation seeks to obtain feedback on the proposed changes to the budget, along with improving our understanding of resident's concerns about the budget. This feedback is then considered by the Board prior to its final decision making on the budget, and changes may be made to reflect public comments received.

More information about public consultation opportunities will be available at a later time.

The total budget for 2025 is $77.6 million, an increase of $3.13 million over the 2024 budget of $74.4 million. The total tax requisition for 2025 is budgeted at $35.53 million, an increase of $2.62 million above the 2024 requisition. This increases the overall tax requisition by 8.5%.

The tax requisition is increasing at different levels for different services, and no resident will pay into every service. 

Administrative Services - 9.1% ($433,615)

Airport Services - 0.6%, $6,616

Contribution Services - 2.5%, $12,598

Grants for Assistance - currently unknown

Development Services - 22.1%, $239,566

Emergency Planning - 4.6%, increase of $46,539

Environmental Services - 7.6%, increase of $421,316

Library, Culture and Heritage Services - 3.4%, $103,617

Protective Services - 5.7%, $398,606

Departments that have significant increases include:

  • Red Bluff / Two Mile Fire Protection: 55%, $205,866 - this will cover borrowing costs for a new firehall.
  • Barlow Creek - 46.5%, $85,235 - this will cover the debt servicing costs for a new tender.
  • Interlakes - 20.5%, $96,026 - this will cover the debt servicing costs for a new tender and increases in operating costs.

Recreation Services - 6.0%, $588,716

Streetlighting - 3.0% increase, $1,480

Sewer Services - 0% requisition increase

Water Services - 0% requisition increase

Utility Fees - 6.0% increase, $100,926

For the full summary, you can read the background staff report here.

  1. Memo - Revised 2025 - 2029 Preliminary 5 year Financial Plan
  2. Overview of the 2025-2029 Five Year Financial Plan - Revised Jan. 21, 2025
  3. 2025 Expected Revenues and Expenses - Revised Jan. 21, 2025
  4. 2024 vs 2025 Comparative Tax Requisition Changes Summary
  5. 2024 vs 2025 Comparative Ad Velorem Tax Requisition Rate Details
  6. 2024 vs 2025 Utility Fee Summary - Revised Jan. 21, 2025
  7. 2025 - 2029 Financial Plan Community Works Fund Allocation
  8. Tax Impacts to Representative Electoral Area Properties
  9. 2025 - 2029 Detailed 5-year Plan Revised Jan. 21, 2025

  • Governance & Administration
  • Airports
  • Arts, Culture & Heritage
  • Building Inspection
  • Bylaw Enforcement
  • Contribution Services
  • Economic Development
  • Emergency Program Services
  • Fire Protection
  • Invasive Plants Management
  • Libraries
  • Planning Services
  • Recreation and Community Halls
  • Search and Rescue
  • Sewer Systems
  • Solid Waste Management
  • Streetlighting
  • Water Systems

  • Area A (Red Bluff, Dragon Lake, Kersley, Alexandria)
  • Area B (Bouchie Lake, Ten Mile Lake)
  • Area C (Barlow Creek, Barkerville)
  • Area D (McLeese Lake, Wildwood, Fox Mountain, Pine Valley/Commodore Heights)
  • Area E (Russet Bluff, Esler, Dog Creek Rd, Chimney/Felker Lakes)
  • Area F (150 Mile, Miocene, Horsefly, Likely, Big Lake Ranch)
  • Area G (Lac La Hache, 108 Mile House)
  • Area H (Canim Lake, Forest Grove)
  • Area I (Nazko, West Fraser)
  • Area J (Anahim Lake, Nimpo Lake, Tatlayako Lake)
  • Area K (Alexis Creek, Riske Creek, Redstone)
  • Area L (Interlakes, Deka Lake, Lone Butte)

Taxation changes between neighbourhoods will vary. This is because different properties belong to different service area boundaries based on their location. 

For these scenarios, the assessed value of the sample residential property is set at a total of $400,000. This is based on an assessed value of $80,000 for Land and $320,000 for Improvements. 

Taxation changes between neighbourhoods will vary. This is because different properties belong to different service area boundaries based on their location. 

For these scenarios, the assessed value of the sample residential property is set at a total of $400,000. This is based on an assessed value of $80,000 for Land and $320,000 for Improvements. 

Property taxation changes vary greatly depending on the area your property is in. In general, areas with higher levels of development and higher property assessments will see lower increases than areas with lower levels of development and lower property values. Additionally, the changes are impacted by the number and type of services available, particularly when there is a recreation service, fire department, or utility system available.

Changes to your property's specific taxation will depend on the change in your property's assessed value between 2024 and 2025. You can contact the Finance Department for a projection of changes to your property taxes for next year.

roperty taxation changes vary greatly depending on the area your property is in. In general, areas with higher levels of development and higher property assessments will see lower increases than areas with lower levels of development and lower property values. Additionally, the changes are impacted by the number and type of services available, particularly when there is a recreation service, fire department, or utility system available.

Changes to your property's specific taxation will depend on the change in your property's assessed value between 2024 and 2025. You can contact the Finance Department for a projection of changes to your property taxes for next year.

Click to open the Neighbourhood Taxation Scenarios.

Contact Us

Kevin Erickson
Chief Financial Officer
Suite D, 180 North Third Avenue, Williams Lake, BC V2G 2A4
Phone: 250-392-3351
Fax: 250- 392-2812
Toll-Free: 1-800-665-1636
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