SCRD Financial Plan for 2026 Adopted

At last Thursday's Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) Board meeting, the 2026 Financial Plan was officially adopted.

This year, a corporate work plan was introduced to guide budget discussions. The plan outlines all current SCRD projects and prioritizes them, ensuring key considerations such as staff capacity and impacts on day-to-day operations were carefully evaluated before proposals moved forward.

Community engagement was also a central part of the financial planning process. Residents identified three primary priorities: drinking water services, fire protection, and garbage disposal and recycling.

The adopted Financial Plan reflects these priorities. To help limit the 2026 taxation increase, the Board approved using surplus and reserve funds , i ncluding $690,000 from a higher-than-expected 2025 surplus es , to offset project costs and suppo rt rate s tabilization, reducing the overall taxation requirement by approximately two percent.

Funding has been allocated for several water system projects, including reservoir maintenance, pump station replacements, and exploratory work at the shíshálh Hospital well. The plan also includes funding to design a vertical expansion at the Sechelt Landfill. Based on current projections, this expansion is expected to extend the landfill's lifespan by approximately 30 years. The plan also provides increased compensation for volunteer firefighters.

Additional investments include bridge replacements, work on park management plans at Dan Bosch and Katherine Lake and a new initiative to help neighbourhoods better prepare for emergencies. Two grant-funded projects will also move forward, supporting emergency services and providing equipment and training for the Emergency Operations Centre.

The SCRD Board further approved increased funding for recreation facility capital renewal and reserve contributions, helping support future development and renovations at SCRD recreation facilities.

More than $1.6 million has been allocated to community partners delivering essential services, including the Pender Harbour Health Centre, Roberts Creek Community Library, Sunshine Coast Tourism, Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue, Gibsons Library, and the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives.

Beyond the 2026 planning process, several multi-year projects previously approved will continue. These include wastewater infrastructure projects across the region, dock renovations, planning for improvements at Coopers Green Park, and bridge replacements at Cliff Gilker Park. The SCRD will also undertake public engagement for a recreation needs assessment and a parks services review.

Preliminary Property Tax Rates

After the adoption of the financial plan, the following are the preliminary average SCRD tax rates per $100,000 of assessed value of Residential Properties.

The figures below are not final and only cover the SCRD portion of your tax bill . If you do not know which area or municipality your home is in, you can search your address via the map linked here.

Estimating the preliminary SCRD portion of your tax bill

You can estimate the preliminary 2026 SCRD portion of your tax bill in three steps:

Step 1 - Take the assessed value of your home which can be found here at BC Assessment .

Step 2 - Divide the assessed value of your home by $100,000.

Step 3 - Multiply that figure by the 2026 preliminary amounts outlined above based off your Electoral Area or Municipality.

For example: If your home is worth $800,000 and the preliminary 2026 SCRD tax rate is $200 then the SCRD portion of your tax bill would be 8 x $200 = $1600.

Staying Informed

The best way to stay informed on Budget 2026 and ask questions at any time is at letstalk.scrd.ca/budget.