Five-year financial plan (2025-2029)

Update: March 20, 2025 - Financial plan adopted

On March 20, 2025, the Regional Board for the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) District adopted the 2025-2029 five-year financial plan.

The 2025-2029 financial plan outlines a total operating budget of $70.8 million for the organization in 2025, up 7.2% or $4.8 million from $66.0 million in 2024.

"This financial plan delivers what matters most to our community—safety, essential services, and park investments for our rapidly growing region," says Loyal Wooldridge, Chair of the Regional Board. "We are enhancing emergency management, upgrading critical infrastructure, and prioritizing environmental stewardship to meet the evolving needs of our residents. Every dollar is invested with care, ensuring a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for everyone in the Central Okanagan."

An estimated $34.2 million in capital and infrastructure improvements are planned for 2025. These costs are funded predominantly through reserves, with funding from grants where available. Projects funded from the Growing Community Fund grant in 2025 include:

• $4,000,000 in grant funding for engineering, design and construction of a new facility for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR).
• $1,050,000 in grant funding for advancing the implementation of a curbside food waste collection service.
• $275,000 for playground replacements in Mission Creek and Scotty Creek parks.

Unlike municipalities, regional districts do not have one tax rate. This means that the impact on each property owner varies depending on where they live, the services they receive and the value of their property. Preliminary average tax impacts for each community within the Central Okanagan are outlined below:

The Regional District does not collect taxes directly. The RDCO requisitions funds from each local government on behalf of their residents and the Province which collects rural property taxes in each electoral area. It is important to note that the RDCO serves as the primary local government for Electoral Area East and West, while municipalities pay an RDCO tax rate in addition to their municipal tax rate.

Residents can expect to receive their tax bill in the mail in June, with property taxes due to the Province by July 2, 2025. To view the RDCO specific breakdown for their taxes, electoral area residents can search their address in the tax estimator tool at rdco.com/tax-estimator.

The draft financial plan was presented to the Board in January 2025, and members of the public were invited to provide questions and comments on the plan between January 10 and February 6, including an in-person meeting on January 30.

For more information on the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s financial planning process and to view the detailed plan visit rdco.com/financial-plan.

Homeowner grants and tax deferral

Central Okanagan property owners may be eligible for the Provincial Homeowner Grant. Information will be available on your Property Tax Notice or visit the Ministry of Finance website. Some property owners may qualify for assistance through the BC Property Tax Deferment Program. Information about this program and who qualifies is available on the BC Government website.

Update: February 21, 2025

Feedback on the 2025-2029 Financial Plan was collected from January 16, 2025, until 4:00 p.m. on February 6, 2025. During the public consultation period, the public was able to provide written comment on the financial plan via mail, email, or through the comment forum below. Eight submissions were received. These are summarized, along with the staff’s responses, in the report. The public also had the opportunity to express comments in-person at the RDCO Committee of the Whole meeting held on January 30, 2025.

On February 20, 2025, the Regional Board was presented with the public feedback on the draft financial plan as well as a revised plan. the Regional Board approved the revised, draft 2025-2029 Five-Year Financial Plan. The revised plan reduced the proposed increase in the tax requisition. Consequently, for the average home in the Central Okanagan, with an assessed value of $884K, the share of the total annual tax requisition for 2025 will increase $33 to $604. This is a decrease of $20/year from the draft Plan presented on January 16, 2025.

The Financial Plan is expected to be adopted at the next Board meeting on March 20.

Watch the February 20 financial plan discussion

Update: January 17, 2025

The information on this page is based on the draft 2025-2029 Financial Plan presented to the Regional Board on January 16, 2025. At the January 16 meeting, the Board requested the following changes to the draft financial plan.

• The removal of the Environmental Planner position
• That reserve funds be used to offset the tax increases for Wilson’s Landing fire department, Ellison Fire Department and the Ellison Community Hall.
• Grant in Aid funding remain at the 2024 levels.

The above changes will result in changes to some budget lines and will be incorporated into a revised plan which will be presented to the Regional Board at the February 20 meeting.

Residents in Electoral Area East and West can view a detailed breakdown of the tax implications of the draft 2025-2029 Financial Plan (with data as of January 29) by visiting rdco.com/tax-estimator. The estimator tool data is expected to be updated again February 20, 2025.

Watch the January 16 financial plan discussion

The Regional District of Central Okanagan is preparing its 2025 – 2029 Five-year Financial Plan and we’d like to hear from you. This page is the RDCO’s official online engagement channel where you will find all of the information about this year’s budget process, including links to documents and live stream meetings.

The proposed budget will be presented to the Regional Board on January 16, 2025 and must be adopted by March 31, 2025, under the Local Government Act.

Guide to the 2025-2029 RDCO Financial Plan

Need help understanding the RDCO 2025-2029 Financial Plan? Review the Guide to the RDCO Financial Plan. The purpose of the guide is to provide you with the background and information to participate in the Regional District of Central Okanagan’s (RDCO) annual financial planning process. The guide includes information about the financial planning process as well as key highlights of the 2025-2029 Financial Plan.

Budget meeting dates

• January 10 - Presentation package available
  • The budget package being presented to the Board on January 16 is available at rdco.com/agenda.
• January 16 - Initial presentation
  • Presentation at the 9:30 a.m. Regional Board meeting.
• January 30 - In person comments
  • Public comments at the 8:30 a.m. Committee of the Whole meeting.
• February 6 - Deadline for public comments
  • 4:00 p.m. deadline for comments provided on yoursay.rdco.com., mailed in or sent via email to finance@rdco.com.
• February 20 - Financial plan feedback presentation and approval
  • Public comments and updated financial plan brought forward to the Regional Board for approval at 9:30 a.m. Regional Board meeting.
• March 20 - Financial plan bylaw adoption
  • Financial plan bylaw is adopted at the 9:30 a.m. Regional Board meeting.

Each budget meeting is livestreamed so that you can watch the Regional Board budget discussions. Each meeting is also recorded and is available online at rdco.com/agenda.

We want to hear from you

To ensure the financial planning process is transparent and reflects the community’s needs, the RDCO invites public comment for the proposed five-year financial plan and budget. There are several ways to ask questions and share your thoughts on the proposed budget.

Please include your civic address of the property you either own or live in when providing comments or feedback on the Financial Plan.