Staff Report: West Shore Parks and Recreation Society (WSPRS) 2025 Budget (cover report)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Attached is the proposed 2025 West Shore Parks & Recreation Society (WSPRS) budget and requisition submitted by the WSPRS Board of Directors. The purpose of this report is to seek a formal resolution from Council, approving the 2025 WSPRS budget.

BACKGROUND

Every year the WSPRS submits their budget and requisition requests to the five participating municipalities: Colwood, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, and View Royal. On October 10th, 2024, the WSPRS Board of Directors moved that the Draft 2025 WSPRS Budget be presented to Council Members for approval.

COMMENTARY

The total municipal requisitions for WSPRS in the attached budget are $6,285,001. This year’s requisition represents an increase of $235,915 or 3.90% over the approved 2024 budget requisition. Attached to this report is the request from WSPRS which further outlines the drivers to the requested budget increase.

As per the West Shore Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agreement, which governs the members’ obligations as participants in the WSPRS, the requisition amounts attributed to each member in proportion based on their converted assessment values as provided by each member’s Chief Financial Officer on an annual basis.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

The total municipal requisitions for WSPRS in the attached budget are $6,285,001, of which Langford’s portion is $3,422,724. This represents an increase of $146,518 (4.47%) over the approved 2024 budget. An increase of $146,518 represents approximately a 0.27% increase to municipal property taxes.

Under the terms of the Operating Maintenance and Management Agreement between the owners and WSPRS, the annual budget must be approved unanimously. Failure to approve would mean that the previous year’s budget would carry into the current year.

STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT

• Good Governance: 5a – Be at the Table for Strategic Regional Discussions and Decisions
• Quality of Life: 6l – Increased Access to Recreation Infrastructure and Services

OPTIONS

Option 1

THAT Council approve the 2025 West Shore Parks and Recreation Society budget and requisition request.

OR Option 2

THAT Council not approve the 2025 West Shore Parks and Recreation Society budget and requisition request and advise WSPRS of the reasons for the rejection.

SUBMITTED BY

Curtis Staniforth, Manager of Budgets and Revenue

Concurrence

• Michael Dillabaugh, CPA, CA, Director of Finance
• Melisa Miles, Manager of Legislative Services
• Donna Petrie, Senior Manager of Communications & Economic Development
• Yari Nielsen, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities
• Matthew Baldwin, RPP, MCIP, Director of Development Services
• Leah Stohmann, RPP, MCIP, Director of Community Planning and Climate Change
• Katelyn Balzer, P.Eng., Director of Engineering and Public Works
• Marie Watmough, Director of Legislative & Protective Services
• Braden Hutchins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
• Darren Kiedyk, Chief Administrative Officer

Attachment

2025 West Shore Parks & Recreation Society (WSPRS) budget and requisition