District of Ucluelet adopts 2024-2028 Financial Plan: A focus on Housing and Infrastructure Renewal
District of Ucluelet – The District of Ucluelet’s Council adopted the 2024-2028 Financial Plan Bylaw at the May 14, 2024 Regular Council meeting.
The plan is the result of significant discussion and includes financial increases targeted towards the District’s Capital Management Plan and dedicated funding to address housing challenges. The updated five-year plan reflects the District of Ucluelet’s aging infrastructure needs and is taking a significant step to close the gap needed to service and replace critical systems such as water, sewer and roads.
The 2024 budget is approximately $19.5 million with roughly $10.35 million funded through grants. This plan has been challenging to develop as inflation increases both the cost of operations and construction. The financial plan includes a tax rate increase of 14.98 percent with approximately $13 million budgeted for capital projects.
The goal of the 2024-2028 Financial Plan is to invest in servicing and upgrading the District of Ucluelet’s critical infrastructure with some of our key projects outlined as follows:
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$13.5 million water treatment system to remove manganese and iron.
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$1.3 million water line replacement connecting Ucluelet to Hitacu and Mercantile Creek.
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Essential repairs and maintenance to water and sanitary systems, lines and treatment systems.
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Peninsula road upgrade and paving.
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Fire Truck Engine #2 replacement.
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Firehall replacement with feasibility planned for this year.
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Recreation Hall replacement.
With housing a top priority, the financial plan focuses dedicated funding on housing with $1.5M of over 3 years. These dedicated funds will support Key updates to our development cost charges bylaw, subdivision servicing bylaw, updated water and sanitary plans, official community plan and zoning bylaws which are fully funded and underway. The updates will not only bring the municipalities bylaws into compliance with the new provincial regulations but streamline the development application and approval process.
“The commitment to increasing the annual capital allocation to the Districts capital replacement program by $1M annually for the next five years makes it possible for the municipality to take proactive moves in the repair of existing infrastructure at the same time as increasing the water and sanitary capacity of our systems.” said Ucluelet Mayor Marilyn McEwen. This new funding will remove a key challenge for infill development and future growth within the municipality by making the key system repairs and capacity improvements needed to allow for development of new housing projects.
For more information on the budget and financial plan please visit Ucluelet.ca/Finance
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