The Williams Lake City Council is looking into three options to balance its books for 2026’s budget.
During Tuesday’s, December 2, City Council meeting, a preliminary proposed budget from City Staff was received for the Council to review.
The City’s Chief Financial Officer, Vitali Kozubenko, said if all capital projects are included, there is a $2,832,814.00 shortfall.
Council was directed to review the capital projects and consider three options on how to handle the shortfall.
Option 1:
Raise rates or general and parcel taxes to implement the requested capital program, which would include:
• Raise general taxes by a further 7% (to a total tax increase of 12%). • Raise water rates by 68% or water parcel tax by 228% (or combination of raises). • Raise sewer rates by 8.3% or sewer parcel tax by 79% (or combination of raises).
Option 2:
Fund the capital program from reserves and surpluses.
Finally, Option 3 is:
Reduce capital program proposed – Council may direct staff to remove some service level projects or projects added to address Council priorities from the plan.
Council will review and make adjustments to which capital projects will go ahead, which will be discussed in a Special Council Meeting held on Wednesday, December 3, at 12 p.m.
Councillor Scott Nelson said he will be looking to cut projects to get a “targeted” zero per cent tax increase, to support the struggle to handle the rise in affordability costs.
“There’s no doubt that there’s some dark clouds over the resource-based communities, including Williams Lake,” Nelson said, mentioning the closure of the Drax pellet plant, which is estimated to be $400,000 hit to the City’s tax revenue base.
“This budget is put together very cautiously based upon grants and recognizing quite clearly that we’ve had a flat line in growth in the private sector over the last five years. So, any big capital projects, if they’re not grant-funded, I’m not going to be supporting them. So, at the budget meeting tomorrow, I’ll be looking to at key capital projects that are tied to grants. The others need to be axed.”
Nelson also
Councillor Michael Moses said he will also be looking to reduce the City’s tax increase, but to a level that “keeps as many services as possible for the least amount of extra costs” while understanding the rising costs.
“I’m not aiming for a zero or a 3.3, but at whatever keeps our community functional and safer,” Moses said. “I agree that we will do our best to keep that number as small as we can, but we do not only answer to the community for the amount of taxes that we’re charging. We also answer the community for the quality and the amount of services that we’re providing. The longer we push back maintenance, replacements, and capital projects, to make sure we provide certain services. The more the maintenance will cost when they surprise us and break in the long road.”
In December 3’s Special Council Meeting, Council will decide which direction they will go forward on deciding projects within the budget.
There is a community meeting at City Hall on December 9 at 3 p.m. regarding the final 2026 budget, where the final reading and potential adoption will be decided.
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