News release 
For immediate release 

Saanich, BC –Saanich Council passed the five-year Financial Plan Bylaw as well as the 2019 Tax Rate Bylaw at its May 13 meeting. These bylaws establish the operating and capital plans for all municipal programs, including the tax revenue required to support service delivery.

The District of Saanich’s 2019-2023 Financial Plan, also known as the budget, outlines spending for municipal programs, services and infrastructure.

"Through our recent citizen and business surveys, we heard the majority of Saanich residents want us to maintain and where possible enhance the same level of services with managed tax increases," said Mayor Fred Haynes. "This input as well as residents’ ability to pay was top of mind for Council throughout our budget deliberations. Our 2019 budget balances these factors while continuing to deliver more than 100 services to our residents.”

The Financial Plan builds on existing programs and services representing Saanich’s community themes of environmental integrity, social well-being and economic vibrancy through investment in initiatives such as implementation of the Active Transportation Plan, Older Adult Strategy and Strategic Facilities Master Plan.

The 2019 Tax Rate Bylaw establishes an average tax rate increase of 5.2 per cent for existing homeowners. The increase includes 3.7 per cent for municipal services and 1.5 per cent to cover the Province’s new Employer Health Tax. This equates to a $135 increase for the average existing homeowner in Saanich.

Quick facts

• The municipal property tax increase allocates 2.35 per cent to support current levels of municipal and police operations and services; 1.21 per cent for capital infrastructure replacement; .14 per cent for the Greater Victoria Public Library; and 1.5 percent for the Province’s Employer Health Tax.
• Saanich will mail tax notices and informational materials to all property owners before the end of May 2019.
• Payment of taxes and annual homeowner grant applications are due on or before July 2, 2019.

Learn more

Visit Saanich.ca/shapingsaanich for resources about:

• how property assessments relate to property taxes;
• how financial planning works in Saanich; and
• Saanich service delivery.

The 2019-2023 Financial Plan and a new Budget in Brief companion document are available at Saanich.ca.

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Media contact:
Valla Tinney
Director of Finance
250-475-1775 ext. 5521
valla.tinney@saanich.ca