SCRD Round 1 Budget and Utility Rates

The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board recently concluded Round 1 of its Budget and Rates and Fees discussions. These meetings focused on advancing projects and initiatives to maintain and enhance service levels across the region. 

A key consideration for the Board was staff capacity, given the significant number of ongoing projects that carry over from year to year. 

Rates and Fees 

During the November 21 Finance Committee meeting, the Board reviewed proposed rates and fees for services such as water, wastewater, and planning. Following Board direction, adjustments were made to the proposed rates for the Regional Water Service, with a revised report presented on November 28. 

The following water rates were adopted at the December 12, 2024 SCRD Board meeting:  

Water System	2024 Total	2025 Total	Increase
North Pender	$1405.03	$1,530	+ $124.97
South Pender	$1,359.97	$1,525	+ $165.03
Regional	$1,164.99	$1,229.24	+ $64.25

The daily cost of water utility rates is approximately $3.36 for the Regional Water System and $4.17 to $4.19 for the North and South Pender Water systems. 

Rates for individual wastewater treatment facilities can be found on their respective community pages at letstalk.scrd.ca/wastewater, where residents can also ask questions. All updated rates can be found at www.scrd.ca/utility-billing.  

Also at the December 12 Board meeting, updated fees were adopted for services including planning, building and waste disposal at the landfill. You can find the updated fees for these services linked below.  

• Landfill Fees 
• Curbside Fees
• Planning and Development Fees 
• Plumbing Fees 

Round 1 Budget 

This year, projects that are being considered through the budget process have been broken down into three categories;  

• Mandatory Projects (MUST do) – Projects that must proceed in the budget year due to imminent asset failure (with a defined consequence), regulatory compliance or safety requirements. 

• Strategic (Should do) – Directly relates to Board Strategic Focus Areas of water stewardship or solid waste solutions, a Board Directive, and/or is required because of policy. 

• Discretionary (Could do) – Projects that do not meet any of the criteria for Mandatory or Strategic classification. 

The Board’s focus has been on moving forward mandatory projects and those strategic projects which will maintain service levels with the potential to increase service levels in the future.  

A sample of these projects is below.  

Mandatory Projects 

• Upgrades to the Chapman Water Treatment Plant  

• Soames Creek Monitoring Compliance  

• Several projects focused on health and safety  

• Noxious weed removal at John Daley Park  

• Increased information technology data storage 

Several projects are part of the SCRD Board’s Strategic Plan and focus on two main service areas, Water Stewardship and Solid Waste Solutions. These include; 

• Design and permitting for a treatment plant for the Gray Creek water source 

• Construction of the Langdale Well Field  

• Feasibility study for raw water reservoir  

• Permitting associated with Siphons at Chapman and Edwards Lakes.   

• Software upgrades at water treatment plants, pump stations and reservoirs across all water systems  

• Reservoir maintenance in the Regional and South Pender water systems  

• Continued work and engagement on the Solid Waste Management Plan to explore future waste disposal options on the Sunshine Coast 

Several projects are required to maintain service levels and plan for future demand. These include; 

• Most SCRD services require a base budget lift to adjust to inflation and increased cost of goods and services  

• Budget for Transit Expansion priorities through 2025  

• Major project is required to repair trails and bridges at Cliff Gilker Park  

• Upgrades to Mason Road works yard to prepare for electric buses in the Region  

• Pressure release valves to optimize water flow for the Church Road Well Field  

• Implementation of the Firefighter Compensation Action Plan  

• Several vehicle replacements  

• Ongoing operations and maintenance at wastewater treatment facilities 

A full list of proposed projects in Round 1 can be found in the agenda for the meeting.  

Community Conversations 

The SCRD is changing how outreach is done in the community in relation to the 2025 budget. 

Over the past two years, the SCRD has hosted several information sessions for the budget. These have not been well attended and take a considerable number of resources to set up and promote. In keeping with the focus on best use of staff resources through this year’s budget, the SCRD will provide recorded presentations from key staff.  

These will be posted at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget and the community can ask questions on that page. To date, one question has been asked on the page.  

SCRD Directors will be providing outreach and presentations in their respective areas to ensure that the community can speak directly to those who are making decisions on this year’s budget. These community conversations will continue throughout the budget process, up until the adoption of the financial plan in mid-February. 

If you are a member of a community group or organization that would like a presentation from your elected representative, their contact information can be found at www.scrd.ca/electoral-areas-and-municipalities/. 

On January 9, 2025, the SCRD will host a local government roundtable to present the 2025 budget. This will occur prior to Round 2 budget, where final decisions are made on which projects will be forwarded for adoption in the financial plan. 

The public is welcome to attend this meeting, and more information will be prior to the meeting taking place.  

The best way to stay informed on Budget 2025 is at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget and at www.scrd.ca/news.