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As 2023 budget deliberations approach, the District will be publishing a series of “You Asked” articles to better explain key challenges our growing community faces. 

Not a single person in Lake Country can ever say “we don’t get snow” because we do - and sometimes, we get a lot! With weather events becoming increasingly frequent and more severe and the safety of the community being our priority, increased effort for snow clearing of both roads and sidewalks is necessary -- which comes with additional costs. You might not know that the District is responsible for snow clearing, de-icing, street sweeping, and maintenance of sidewalks, paved and gravel roads, while continuously ensuring established levels of service are maintained on all 210 km of roads and 60 km of sidewalks throughout Lake Country (highway 97 is cleared and maintained by the province). 

Local to Lake Country- the team at Digg’N 4 U, our current Roads maintenance contractor has provided the community service since 2013 with timely and responsive year-round road and sidewalk maintenance. However, achieving and maintaining established levels of service comes at a cost. In 2022 the District budgeted $1.6 million for the road maintenance contract. Recently a request for proposals (RFP) was issued to ensure that Lake Country continues receiving value for dollars being spent on road maintenance year-round.  

Inflation has impacted the road maintenance and construction industry even more than the average consumer inflation rate which adds to the District’s overall costs. The cost of material like steel blades, equipment parts and diesel has escalated even more than the consumer inflation rate. The added cost, to continue maintaining the levels of services we are all used to and expect in 2023 and beyond, will result in a tax increase. 

Get Involved!

There are lots of ways to get involved with the 2023 budget process: 

  • January 26th, 2023 - Council will deliberate the five-year financial plan at 1st reading. Attend in person or watch live on-line.
  • January 31, 2023 – Council will be hosting the 2023 Town Hall via Facebook Live and Streaming technology. Plan to attend in person or from home. 
  • Let’s Talk – Lake Country will be updated as the budget process progresses. Visit often for up-to-date information and to ask a question. Pose your questions in advance of the January 31 Town Hall to hear the question discussed at the meeting.  
  • Late February 2023 – Council will give the five-year financial plan 2nd and 3rd reading after incorporating any changes from deliberations and after receiving public input prior to adoption in March 2023.