By Cheryl Jahn

RD approves 2021 budget

Mar 19, 2021 | 1:39 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Board of Directors has approved the 2021 Operating Budget and Five-Year Financial Plan. Operating and capital expenditures for the Regional District in 2021 will total $60.5 million. Of that, $20.1 million will be funded through property taxation, which is an increase of $282,636 or 1.43% over 2020. Most of the other funding for the budget for 2021 is coming in the form of grants, user fees and use of reserve funds as well as increases to property values. That leads to an overall decrease in the taxes in each area of the regional district.

The largest budget item for the Regional District is solid waste management, with a budget of $25.1 million, 9-1-1 Emergency Response Services with a budget of $9.4 million, protective services at $7.5 million and Recreation and Cultural Services at $4.5 million.

“Over the past year, COVID challenged us to deliver services residents rely on, with a focus on the health and safety of our staff and the public. For 2021, we will continue to face that challenge, while moving forward with projects like the Foothills Blvd. Landfill entrance relocation, Cummings Road Transfer Station improvements, the relocation of the Fire Operations Communications Centre (FOCC) and the completion of the Public Safety Operations Facility,” says Board Chair Art Kaehn.