Council approved all three readings of the 2026–2030 financial plan at an estimated 10.5% tax increase, after raising the asset-management contribution from 1.75% to 2%. The debate put immediate affordability against the cost of keeping up policing and fire services and repairing aging roads and other infrastructure; several speakers said household budgets were already stretched, while others warned that delaying repairs could make them more expensive. The approved plan keeps funding for two new RCMP officers, including a school liaison officer, but does not include the Sooke Community Association’s requested $70,000 increase. Council also scheduled a budget open house for April 8, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m., in Council Chambers.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
What was discussed
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3.1 Approval of the Agenda
governance
Council adopted the meeting agenda as presented. This procedural item is included to account for the official motion.
Agreement
No one opposed the agenda.
Carried, unanimous2026-133Item 3.1
Routine: approve the agenda for this special meeting.
Official wording: THAT the agenda for the April 1, 2026 Special Meeting of Council be adopted as presented.
Staff presented the 8%, 10% and 12% budget options. The bylaw before council reflected the 10% scenario, including two RCMP officers—one school liaison officer and one frontline officer—with funding beginning in September, and a July 1 start for a firefighter. To reach that scenario, the plan removed funding for a $70,000 increase requested by the Sooke Community Association, cut funding for zoning and building bylaw updates, and reduced the asset-management contribution to 1.75%. A councillor moved to restore asset management to 2%, adding $72,244 and bringing the increase to 10.5%; that amendment carried. Council then gave the amended bylaw all three readings. Three councillors opposed the readings. The vote completes the third reading, but the transcript does not record final adoption of the bylaw. Council also directed staff to hold a budget open house on April 8, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. Seven members of the public spoke: some urged lower taxes and cuts to non-essential spending, while others supported the 12% option and warned that underfunding asset repairs would shift costs to future taxpayers.
Agreement
Council and staff recognized that aging infrastructure needs repairs and that emergency work can force difficult budget choices.
Staff explained that many grants are restricted to particular projects and cannot be redirected to routine operating costs.
Council supported holding a public budget open house on April 8.
Disagreement
Several public speakers called for a lower increase, deeper spending cuts or a pause on projects they considered non-essential; other speakers argued for 12% to fund services and infrastructure and avoid deferring costs.
A councillor argued for stronger austerity and said taxpayers could not keep absorbing increases; other councillors emphasized the need to fund policing, fire services and asset repairs.
One councillor opposed restoring asset management to 2%, describing the change as an increase made during the process; the amendment nevertheless carried.
Council did not agree on whether the 10.5% plan was enough. Some supported it as a compromise, while others preferred 12% or wanted more cuts.
Carried 5 to 22026-135Item 5.11:30:55 Watch · Read
Set the financial plan’s contribution to asset management at 2%. The minutes say this change results in an overall tax increase of 10.5%.
Official wording: THAT the Financial Plan be amended to increase the Asset Management contribution to 2%.
Carried 4 to 32026-136Item 5.12:00:17 Watch · Read
Advance the five-year financial plan, with the asset management contribution set at 2%, through its first three readings. The minutes state that the amended plan has an overall tax increase of 10.5%.
Official wording: THAT Council give the first, second, and third reading to the 2026-2030 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw No. 940, as amended to increase the Asset Management contribution to 2%.
Have staff hold a budget open house in Council Chambers on April 8, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Official wording: THAT Council direct staff to schedule a Budget Open House for Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.