From the desk of Regional Director Robyn Mawhinney
Hello,
The wild currants are flowering and the soft green spring haze is growing daily… I hope you are finding time to enjoy the outdoors along with all the wonders of a full island life. This report provides more context on the support service cost allocations of the previous report, the SRD’s WildSafe application, and new access to Strathcona Regional District corporate policies.
More info on Area C tax increase
Following my previous report, “Board changes allocation formula, Area C taxes increase” I received questions and comments; as well, headlines appeared in local media citing a 30% tax hike for Area C. I was surprised when I read the headline; if you saw the headline you likely were also. There are important details the headlines didn’t capture: the increase is on the SRD portion of our taxes, NOT on our overall taxes. For example, the Regional Solid Waste Service and Comox-Strathcona Hospital Service are not included in the SRD portion. And, unlike the other Electoral Areas, the SRD tax portion doesn’t include Fire Services, another significant tax line item unaffected by this increase.
For comparative purposes, you may be interested in the estimated 2025 SRD tax requisitions based on average home value: Area C (Quadra Island): $841; Area A: $716; Area B: $1,534; Area D: $2,405. As a reminder, March 26 the Board chose to reallocate administrative costs from municipalities toward electoral areas, making an unexpected jump in Area C taxes — adding about $109 to the average household (based on Area C average residential property value of $665,135). Apart from the reallocated administrative costs, smaller increases in 2025 are for the Quadra Island Community Centre ($49, Quadra residents only) and Parks ($5). Learn more and find links to the 2025 Financial Plan here.
According to the SRD’s Chief Financial Officer, “for the past ten years Area C was probably paying, relative to the other areas, less than they should have”. Staff explained that other Electoral Areas have Services with user fees, and the decrease in cost allocation to those Services offset the increases of the reallocation towards Electoral Area administration. As Area C has fewer services with user fees, the reallocation hits us hardest.
WildSafe application
August 2024 the Board supported an application to the WildSafeBC Community Program for Areas B & C, Quadra, Cortes and the Discovery Islands. At the recent Electoral Area Services Committee, we received a response to the application: ‘due to the recent economic downturn and threat of tariffs, the Provincial government has held off on confirming funding and indicated that any funding we receive may be reduced. Because of this uncertainty we… have no capacity to approve any new communities’. The news was not what we were hoping for; we have been encouraged to apply again in 2026.
As a reminder, keeping large predators wild keeps them, and us, safe. It’s recommended to not feed deer or raccoons as they are prey species and may attract large predators to your neighbourhood. If you encounter a cougar or a wolf, instill wariness by waving your arms and shouting loudly, to teach them to stay away from humans. Leash your dog: unleashed dogs can be seen as prey; and keep livestock in 6’ fences and in predator-proof shelters overnight. More info at wildsafebc.com/learn.
SRD Corporate Policies
The SRD has a Code of Conduct Bylaw which governs Directors, ensuring that we follow its principles in order to provide ‘effective, responsible and responsive government’. It is a comprehensive, seven-page bylaw of directives, including the necessity to comply with all applicable laws, including SRD policies.
The Regional District’s policies have been somewhat opaque, other than when they are brought to the Board for a review, as happens occasionally. I’ve been curious about what the entirety of SRD policies are, and impatient with the promised website update which would potentially provide them. So, in February I filed a Freedom of Information Request for copies of all current SRD corporate policies: thirty business days later and I’ve received them. In the interests of public accessibility and for policy nerds, I’ve uploaded the collection of policies to robynmawhinney.ca/resources. You’re welcome to check them out.
Connect
Thank you for reading. You’re welcome to connect with me with questions or concerns: email RMawhinney@srd.ca, or call 250.203.2468. If you’d like to chat in person, you can book an in-person meeting at calendly.com/robynmawhinney… my next office day is April 24.
Until next time,
Respectfully,
Director Robyn Mawhinney