Sooke Harbour: News: Sooke Annual Report

Sooke Council reviews its work

Piro Raits, Sooke News Mirror
June 22, 2005

The District of Sooke's 2005 Annual Report was presented to council at a special meeting on June 20.

The 26-page formal report outlined the issues council faced on a day-to-day basis, said Mayor Janet Evans. In the report Chief Administrative officer, Peter Jmaeff said it is one of the methods on which staff and Council can encourage better community relations.
The 2005 Annual Report contains comparisons from revenue and expenses from 2003.

In 2004 it was reported that residential construction was approximately 80 per cent above the normal construction level, with 257 building permits issued between January 1, 2004 and December 21, 2004. The value of 143 single-family dwellings was $19,805,324.00 and multi-family dwellings were valued at $2,095,775.00. The total construction value for all building permits, both residential and commercial amounted to $23,653,414.00
Subdivision applications finalized in 2004 created 44 additional residential lots, 43 of which were located within the Sooke Core Sewer Specified area.

Mayor Evans reported earlier that the sewer project was ahead of schedule and on budget. Completion is scheduled for January 2006, but Evans said it might be completed sooner than expected. Engineering, Planning and Economic Development items can be found in the report.
In the area of Protective Services it was reported that the Fire Department's response to emergency incidents was up by 15 per cent over 2003. A total of 600 emergency incidents were reported in 2004 compared to 521 incidents in 2003. In 2004, the Sooke Fire Department responded to an average of 11.5 incidents per week. In 2004 there were 238 medical assistance calls, which contributed to 39.6 per cent of the total call volume. The number of incidents in 2004 attended by the fire department was the most that has ever been recorded in the department's history. The call volume in 2004 is 100 per cent higher than it was five years ago. This is attributed to increased population.

On the financial side, the District of Sooke appears to be in good shape. On the revenue side of the ledger, taxes amounted to $2.4 million in the $7.5 million budget. Government transfers and grants came to $3.9 million.
Debt proceeds of $6.1 million bring the balance to $2.8 million more than expenditures.

Expenditures totaled $10.8 million with the largest expense being the Engineering and Development sector with a price tag of $7.1 million. Protective Services cost the District $1.6 million and Community Services cost $832,414. In 2002 the District of Sooke
received $750,000 for policing costs under an agreement with the Ministry of Public Safety and the Solicitor General. A grant from the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services paid for the first two years (to March 2004) of policing costs.

It cost the District $808,893 cost for policing in 2004. In 2005 policing costs will be assumed by the District, which will be paid through property taxes.

Further details are available in the 2005 Annual Report, which can be viewed on line at www.district.sooke.bc.ca


© Copyright 2005 Sooke News Mirror

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