District of Sooke Invites Community to 2026 Budget Open House on April 8

The District of Sooke is inviting residents to attend a Budget Open House on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Municipal Hall, Council Chamber.

This drop-in event provides an opportunity to learn more about the proposed 2026 municipal budget, associated service levels, and what they mean for the community.

The open house is one of several opportunities for residents to learn about the proposed budget and engage in the process. Each year, the budget is shaped by community feedback gathered through the District’s annual survey and ongoing engagement. During phase one, including the annual survey and community pop-ups, more than 1,700 voices contributed their perspectives to help inform priorities and guide decision-making.

“The District begins engagement early in the budget process to ensure the five-year financial plan is as responsive as possible to community voices,” said Chief Administrative Officer Raechel Gray. “The financial landscape for local governments continues to evolve, and early community feedback allows us to balance new pressures and difficult financial realities with the priorities identified by our community - recognizing that priorities and available funding may not always align seamlessly.” 

At a Special Council meeting held on April 1, 2026, Sooke Council gave three readings to the 2026–2030 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw. The proposed budget includes a tentative property tax increase for 2026 of 10.5%, or approximately $17.54 per month for the average single-family residential property.

The proposed increase is driven by the following key components:

• 3.04%: Fire - Additional staffing, including two career firefighters, and maintaining emergency response capacity
• 2.60%: Police - Two additional RCMP officers, including a school and community liaison services
• 2.00%: Asset Management - Investment in maintaining and replacing infrastructure such as roads and facilities
• 1.81%: General Municipal - Ongoing operational costs and service delivery including municipal roads, parks and trails, bylaw and legislative requirements
• 0.97%: E-Comm 9-1-1 - Full-year funding for emergency call answering and dispatch services
• 0.08% Debt Servicing

The draft financial plan reflects key investments in community safety and emergency services, including the addition of two career firefighters expected to start in July and two RCMP officers anticipated to begin in September. The budget also accounts for a full year of funding for E-Comm 9-1-1 services, at approximately $430,000.

Over the past several months, Council has worked through multiple budget scenarios, carefully considering service levels, community safety investments, and long-term financial sustainability in a growing community.

“Budget development is an ongoing process that reflects months of thoughtful discussion and deliberation,” said Mayor Maja Tait. “We encourage residents to attend the open house to better understand what has emerged through Council’s work - including how service levels, public safety investments, long-term needs, and financial realities come together - before budget adoption.”

The Budget Open House will offer residents the opportunity to review key components of the proposed budget, ask questions, and speak directly with staff and elected officials.

Written correspondence may be submitted to: budget@sooke.ca

Missed the 2026 budget survey? There are several ways to stay informed and get involved:

• Sign up for the District’s monthly newsletter or Public Participation mailing list
• Subscribe for updates at sooke.ca/subscribe
• Receive meeting agendas and access recordings at sooke.ca/meetings

For more on the budget process, please visit letstalk.sooke.ca/budget.