City Budget

The City of Victoria is growing and changing.

With these changes come added pressures on City services and infrastructure. The City's budget looks to adapt to change and balance competing priorities while continuing to provide high-quality services our citizens have come to expect.

2019 Budget Overview and Impacts

The 2019 operating budget totals $260.6 million and the capital budget totals $97.2 million.

Read the 2019 Financial Plan [PDF - 27 MB].
 
The City of Victoria faces challenges due to changing responsibilities and new or expanded service requirements. For 2019, one major impact is the introduction of a Provincial Health Tax, which replaces Medical Services Plan premiums. The impact to the City is in the range of $2 million annually.
 
The property tax increase is 2.53% for the City portion and 1.45% for the Provincial Health Tax, for an overall tax increase of 3.98%. Combined with utility fees, the overall costs to homeowners and businesses results in a 3.52% and 3.77% increase from 2018 respectively.

Property Tax Breakdown

.91%   City Operations
1.5%   Capital Investment
.79%   Police
.08%   Greater Victoria Public Library
- .75% Property Tax Revenue from Growth
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= 2.53% City Portion of Property Tax Increase
+ 1.45% Provincial Health Tax
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= 3.98% Overall Tax Increase

Budget Highlights

The City’s budget aims to balance the demand to continue providing the City’s approximately 200 services and over 200 capital infrastructure projects with the demand for increased or new services. Below are some of the key highlights of program and service investments in the 2019 budget.
  • Replace aging pipes and underground infrastructure, including some of the City’s oldest pipes installed in 1891,to ensure clean water and environmental protection for the harbour and City natural areas
  • $5.5 million in continued funding for the Greater Victoria Public Library, including the Central and sxʷeŋxʷəŋ təŋəxʷ James Bay branches
  • Funding for a Neighbourhoods Team to work with neighbourhood groups and residents to create vibrant communities
  • Support for arts, culture and events with approximately $1.5 million including public art, festivals, special events, City of Victoria Butler Book Prize, Artist in Residence and Poet Laureate programs
  • Invest in the City’s parks, recreation and facilities, including 137 parks, 207 hectares of parkland, 90 hectares of natural landscape, 40 playgrounds, 23 tennis courts, 12 dog off leash areas, 45 sports fields and 104 City facilities.
  • Increased capital investment of $975,000 to improve City streets
  • Crosswalk installations or upgrades at seven locations
  • Planning for the replacement of the Ross Bay Seawall
  • Wharf and Humboldt Streets, and Vancouver Street pedestrian and cycling improvements
  • Technology improvements including digital plans, online forms, online business licences
  • Climate action initiatives to reduce emissions by 80% and transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050
  • Emergency Management Program
  • Safety and lighting upgrades at City parkades