RDN Board approves 8.6% increase for 2025 budget

Nicole Knowles

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Gabriola Sounder

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has finalized the 2025-2029 financial plan.

This was the topic of discussion at the latest RDN board meeting, held on March 25. Before voting, directors spent an hour voicing either their support or opposition to the 2025-2029 financial plan – which had to have been ratified by March 31.

The first attempt at the vote failed against staff’s recommendation. Vanessa Craig is Board chair, and is the elected representative for Electoral Area B (Gabriola, Mudge and Decourcy)

She said ”I think if there were significant changes that could have been suggested and were supported by the board that we would have debated those and discussed them earlier, and to have reached this point now is quite disappointing.”

Staff explained to the board that the implications for not passing the budget meant the unrevised preliminary budget passed on Dec 10 would be the working budget for the year – and said that six more days wouldn’t leave time to make meaningful change.

Chair Craig called for  a reconsideration. At this time the financial plan passed with only Lehann Wallace, Electoral Area G, Bob Rogers Electoral Area E,  and Leanne Salter, Electoral Area F opposing it.

The amended financial plan sees a total tax requisition of $95,106,056. This is down by approximately $582 000 from what the RDN had been considering in December.

This will result in an 8.6 per cent increase from 2024.

For Electoral Area B taxpayers, there were three significant changes made to the 2025-2026 financial plan since the preliminary plan was issued in December.

• A $7,000 one-time increase for the Gabriola Transit Contribution (GERTIE).

• A one year increase to the Gabriola Taxi Saver Service of $4,841.

• A one-time increase to the Southern Community Economic Development function of $7,100 for the Gabriola Chamber of Commerce. Note: the Chamber had requested $20,000.

Through the budget planning process, the directors say they have put in place strategies for next year that are aimed at streamlining the process and giving more time for debate and a full understanding of proposed capital projects.