Administrative building contributions to be reduced

Rachelle Stein-Wotten

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

Reserve contributions related to the Regional District of Nanaimo’s administrative building plans will go down following an amendment to the 2024-28 financial plan.

The board of directors unanimously voted in favour of reducing transfers to capital reserves for the corporate administration admin building renovation/replacement by $500,000 for each year of the financial plan.

The phased approach and densification plans for the building on Hammond Bay Road in Nanaimo would still add money to reserves but at a reduced amount, said Electoral Area E Director Bob Rogers, who introduced the motion. “I didn’t think it appropriate that at this time that we would be taxing people for reserves until we had better defined what we wanted to do for the building and the means to do it.”

Chief Administrative Officer Doug Holmes said the initial plan was to accumulate cash to replace the building, which can’t presently accommodate all staff with office and desk space at once. The building, however, is sound, Holmes said, and the focus now is on increasing densification “to maximize space in the building.

“The intention would be to use creative work places – work from home, other RDN places – to the greatest extent possible before extending the footprint of this building.”

An asset management plan for the building is underway, to be completed this year, “and that will inform accumulation of reserves much better,” Holmes said.

The amendment brings the contribution to reserves down to $995,000 for 2024.