The Regional District of East Kootenay has completed the first review of the 2026-2030 financial plan and residents can now give their thoughts.
The budget process started in September and includes an operating budget of $48.7 million and capital budget of $11.3 million.
“The financial plan lays out how tax dollars are being spent on the more than 115 services offered in the RDEK. Some of the capital projects included in the Financial Plan for 2026 include: fire engine replacements for the Panorama, Hosmer, Baynes Lake and Windermere Fire Departments, a watermain replacement in Windermere, and a reservoir expansion in the Eastside Water System,” said RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay.
“There are also a number of 100% fully funded capital projects, including the extension of the Elko Fire Hall, Edgewater Sewer lift station and connectivity, Edgewater Water raw water intake design and phase 1 of the Hosmer Fire Hall project.”
RDEK officials said this year’s tax increase works out to approximately $26 on an average $623,000 residential assessment.
Public consultation is live and comments will be accepted until noon on Monday, Mar. 9.
“Every year, our board and staff work hard to balance services for our residents with being careful about taxes. As our region grows and changes, and people expect more from services, this gets tougher. I’m proud of how we’ve managed this in this year’s draft plan,” adds Gay.
“Having the public’s feedback is an important next step in the process and we look forward to gathering their input over the coming weeks.”
Copies of the plan and comment forms can be found here or by request at the Cranbrook and Columbia Valley offices.
The RDEK will also be posting a budget snapshot that will be a condensed overview of the draft plan.
The budget will be adopted at the Mar. 13 board meeting.
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