The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has adopted another record budget of $93.1 million containing several major infrastructure projects.
The RDKB says it will use a combination of reserve funds, property and parcel taxes, and short and long term borrowing to balance the books this year.
Government grants make up about 31 per cent of the revenue ($28.6 million), of which $22.5 million will go toward upgrades at the Columbia Pollution Control Centre, which serves Trail, Rossland, and Warfield. The overall project is worth $30.7 million.
Capital expenditures make up about half ($46.7 million) of the budget and also include the completion of the Boundary organics facility upgrade in Grand Forks, and the replacement of fire apparatus in Christina Lake and Big White.
Also on the horizon are two infrastructure projects associated with the continued regional development of the organics diversion programs: the McKelvey Creek landfill upgrade in Trail and the purchase of organics processing equipment.
Future projects include the imminent implementation of a green bin curbside collection for 8,200 homes in Greater Trail this October.
“These necessary investments in our infrastructure have the backing of the people, support the resilience of our communities, facilitate our transition to clean growth, create jobs, improve essential services and will strengthen the entire region as a whole,” board chair Linda Worley said in a news release.
Worley also noted that the RDKB returned to in-person town hall meetings this year to gather public input on their budget and had “record-breaking turnouts.”
“We are grateful to our residents for their continued participation in this important conversation,” she said.
The full 2023-27 five-year financial plan can be viewed here.
The RDKB, by the numbers
Member municipalities: 8
Unincorporated electoral areas: 5
RDKB size: 8,200 square kilometers
RDKB services: 70+
Percentage of the budget that goes to environmental services: 55
Percentage that goes to protective and public safety services (including fire, emergency preparedness and building inspection): 16
Percentage that goes to recreation and culture services: 12
Percentage that goes to general government services: 8
Percentage that goes to transportation services: 3
Percentage that goes to development services: 4
(The remaining two per cent of expenses are municipal debt.)