City councillors will begin budget discussions next week, holding the first of two regular budget meetings on Monday, Jan. 20. These sessions will be focused on setting tax rates for the 2025 fiscal year.
The meetings, open to the public, will take place at 1 p.m. in council chambers and will also be livestreamed. Archived videos of the meetings will be available online for later viewing.
The initial meeting will provide councillots with a overview of both the operational and capital budgets, along with anticipated cost pressures for the coming year. A proposed tax increase of 5.83 per cent will be on the table, which, if approved, would result in an additional cost of approximately $158.87 for the average household. Council will also discuss potential service enhancements that could push the increase to 7.84 per cent.
Additionally, the 2025-2029 Capital Plan will be presented for discussion and approval.
The city has already initiated its budget consultation process, which included community outreach efforts such as online surveys and a public open house in October. A total of 941 responses were received for the check-up surveys, and 930 people participated in the budget survey.
A full report on the consultation results was presented at the Dec. 4 Standing Committee on Finance and Audit meeting.
Kris Dalio, director of finance and IT services, explained that the draft budget aims to maintain current service levels, meet contractual obligations, and allocate resources to address aging infrastructure. However, he noted that the tax levy could change depending on the level of service council chooses to maintain or adjust.
Dalio also emphasized the significant impact of inflation on municipal expenses, which rise faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI) used to track household costs.
"Municipalities face unique challenges when it comes to inflation," Dalio said. "While CPI measures the cost of goods that are commonly used in households, municipalities require specialized materials like asphalt and construction supplies, which are seeing price increases far exceeding those of typical household goods."
Dalio further noted that despite these pressures, Prince George has maintained fiscal prudence, with the second-lowest tax increase among its peers over the past four years.
Residents have until 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 to submit written comments on the proposed budget and capital expenditure plans. Comments can be submitted in person at City Hall, via email to [email protected], or through the city’s online portal.
