The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) will soon begin seeking public input on its draft 2025-2029 Financial Plan.
This comes after the RDEK’s board of directors completed its first view of the budget.
Changes discussed at the RDEK meeting will be incorporated into the new draft plan, with a public input period to begin on February 19.
“The budget process takes six months to gather the information and pull together the Draft Plan; however, a critical piece of the budget process still lies ahead: gathering public feedback on the draft plan,” said RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay.
“Ensuring taxpayers have an opportunity to review the financial plan, feel informed about the projects, services and potential impact on property taxes before the Plan is adopted is critical. The draft plan will be available for several weeks and we encourage residents to take the time to review it and to provide their
comments.”
The financial plan will lay out how tax dollars are spent on the RDEK’s services.
“The Plan includes $11,972,782 in capital projects for 2025 for projects such as the final completion of the Cold Spring Creek Debris Flow Mitigation Project, Fernie Pathway, Jaffray Trail, Edgewater Connectivity Project, Fire Engine Replacements in Panorama, Hosmer and Baynes Lake, Wycliffe Park Campground, Hosmer Fire Hall, and Elko Fire Hall Expansion,” said the RDEK.
The draft budget proposes a $22 tax increase on average residential properties valued at $596,000.
However, tax implications will be different across the RDEK’s electoral districts.
“In the RDEK model, municipalities and electoral areas are all affected differently depending on which RDEK services they receive and RDEK taxes are captured only on the RDEK line items on tax notices, not the overall tax bill,” said the RDEK.
The public comment period will open on February 19 and continue until March 10. You can find the draft plan and feedback forms here or at the RDEK’s Cranbrook and Columbia Valley offices.
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