Each year, the Village of Sayward establishes funding priorities through its annual budget. The Village's Financial Plan (budget) is essential for providing high-quality services our residents and businesses have come to expect.
Village Council sets service levels and allocates funding for all Village services, programs, projects and initiatives. Council budget decisions are informed by community input on priorities for investment.
Budget 2026
What’s in the 2026 Budget?
The 2026 Budget focuses on maintaining essential services, investing in critical infrastructure, and supporting long-term financial sustainability.2026 Rate Impacts
To support ongoing operations and infrastructure investment, the 2026 Budget includes the following adjustments:- Property Taxes: 36% increase
- Water Utility: 20% increase
- Sewer Utility: 5% increase
Solid Waste Services: 5% increase
These adjustments reflect rising operating costs, infrastructure requirements, and the need to maintain reliable service levels.
Financial Context
The 2026 Budget reflects an important step toward more sustainable funding levels.
In prior years, tax and utility rates were kept relatively low, which limited the ability to fully fund ongoing service and infrastructure needs. The 2026 Budget begins to realign revenues with the cost of delivering services, addressing existing funding pressures, and meeting regulatory and safety requirements.What This Means for a Typical Household
For an average residential property, the estimated annual costs in 2026 are:- Property Taxes: $2,322.50 (approximately $193.54 per month)
- Water: $582.20 (approximately $48.52 per month)
- Sewer: $406.88 (approximately $33.91 per month)
- Solid Waste: $333.79 (approximately $27.82 per month)
This represents an increase of approximately $51 per month for property taxes on the average home.
Operating Budget (Day-to-Day Services)
The operating budget funds the core services residents rely on every day:- Water Services – Ensures safe and reliable drinking water for residents
- Transportation & Drainage – Maintains roads, sidewalks, and stormwater systems
- Parks & Recreation – Supports parks, trails, the Village campground, and the Kelsey Recreation Centre, which continues to incur operating costs and remains available for community use on a limited basis.
- Sanitary Sewer & Garbage Collection – Funds sewer system operations, maintenance, and curbside collection
Capital Budget (Infrastructure & Major Projects)
The capital budget invests in infrastructure renewal and key projects to support the community:- Drainage Improvement Project: $1,743,076
Drainage and stormwater upgrades aimed at reducing flooding and minimizing flood risks for homes. Funded through Grant ($1,278,197) and Reserves ($464,879). - Water Treatment Plant – Chlorine Analyzer: $16,000
Replacement of critical monitoring equipment to ensure continued water quality compliance. Funded through Community Works Funds. - Lagoon Flow Meter Replacement: $11,600
Replacement of aging equipment to maintain accurate wastewater flow measurement. Funded through Community Works Funds. - Lagoon Datalogger Replacement: $5,725
Upgrade to data collection systems supporting wastewater operations. Funded through Community Works Funds.
Supporting Long-Term Sustainability
The 2026 Budget represents a step toward aligning revenues with the cost of maintaining reliable services and infrastructure. By leveraging grant funding and reserves, the Village is able to advance priority capital projects while managing current financial pressures.Understanding Your 2026 Property Taxes
The Village collects municipal property taxes to fund services such as roads, drainage, public works, and parks. In addition to municipal taxes, we also collect taxes on behalf of other agencies, including:
School District 72
Strathcona Regional District
Regional Hospital District
Comox Strathcona Waste Management
BC Assessment & Municipal Finance AuthorityReview the final approved Financial Plan here.