The Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission (LCC) held a special meeting on Thursday, January 29, at 9:00 am at the SIMS Board Room (streaming online with TEAMS). The purpose of the special meeting was to review and approve the final budget for 2026. The full agenda package, 247 pages including staff reports and budget details, is available online.
Presentations and Delegations
There were no delegations or presentations.
LCC Business
- The LCC received a staff report on the consolidated Parks and Recreation service. What had previously been four separate services, Community Parks, Community Recreation, Park Land, and the Swimming Pool have been reorganized into a single service with three budgets -- Community Parks and Recreation, SIMS and Recreation Programs, and Rainbow Recreation Centre. The new budgets include two facilities based cost centers, SIMS and Rainbow Road, along with a general budget for all other Parks and Recreation operations. The LCC has long sought a clearer and more readily understandable summary of the costs of its two major recreation facilities, something this consolidation will help provide.
- The LCC received a staff report on LCC governance training options for the new LCC to be elected later this year. The LCC voted to approve the staff recommendation that, “The Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends to the Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director that staff plan a Hybrid Governance Training Program (Option 3) for the fall of 2026 and allocate $5,000 to support this training in the 1.111 Salt Spring Island Administration budget funded by requisition as a one-time expense in 2026.” This motion took the form of a recommendation to the Electoral Area Director because the Salt Spring CRD Administrative Budget is under the authority of the Director and not the LCC.
- The LCC received a staff report on adding funding to the 2026 Parks and Recreation budget to support basic operating costs for the old fire hall following the CRD assuming full responsibility for the facility in the fourth quarter of 2026. Additional costs of $10,465 were added to the 2026 Parks and Recreation budget.
- The LCC received a staff report on the financial support from the Salt Spring Foundation for the CRD Grants in Aid program beginning in 2026. The report was for information only and no action was taken.
- The LCC received a staff report on the final 2026 budget. The report recommended adoption of the provisional budget approved September 11 with the addition of $15,265 for costs not previously included in the provisional budget. The recommendation would have resulted in a 2026 Final Budget increase of 9.8% over the 2025 Final Budget. The LCC then took up motions arising from the budget report as follows:
Budget Motions Arising
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.116 SSI Grant in Aid Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by reducing funding for Grant in Aid by $10,000 from $90,050 to $80,050 and reducing the requisition by $10,000 from $75,960 to $65,960 as one-time reduction for year 2026”. Moved by Director Holman; did not pass.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.124 SSI Economic Development Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by reducing funding for Project Costs by $10,000 from $71,716 to $61,716 and reducing the requisition by $10,000 from $85,672 to $75,672 as one-time reduction for year 2026”. Moved by Director Holman, did not pass.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend 1.234 SSI Street Lighting Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by increasing the Transfer to Operating Reserve Fund from $0 to $350 and increasing the requisition by $350 from $34,004 to $34,354 as a one-time increase in 2026”. Moved by Commissioner Webster, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.236 SSI Small Craft Harbour (Fernwood Dock) Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by reducing Transfers to Capital Reserves by $8,000 from $9,000 to $1,000 and reducing the requisition by $8,000 from $27,677 to $19,677 as one-time reduction for year 2026”. Moved by Director Holman, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.238A Community Transit Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by:
1. Reducing Transfers to Capital Reserves by $10,000 from $23,000 to $13,000 and reducing the requisition by $10,000 from $506,500 to $496,500 as a one-time decrease in 2026.
2. Reducing the reserve funding for project 23-01 (Bus Shelter- Cusheon & Ganges/Fulford road) by $20,000 from $30,000 to $10,000 and add $20,000 Community Works Funding grant funding for project 23-01 in 2026”. Moved by Director Holman, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.238A Community Transit Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by reducing Referendum Costs for Service Expansion from $30,000 to $0”. Moved by Commissioner Webster, did not pass.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.238B Community Transportation Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by:
1. Reducing Transfers to Capital Reserves by $10,000 from $20,000 to $10,000 and Transfers to Operating Reserves by $5,000 from $5,000 to $0 and
2. Reducing the requisition by $15,000 from $77,789 to $62,789 as a one time decrease in 2026”. Moved by Director Holman, amended by Commissioner Baker, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.459 SSI Parks and Rec Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by increasing project 26-12 (Phoenix Upgrades Project) from $5,000 to $30,000 funded by $25,000 of CWF in 2026”. Moved by Commissioner Webster, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 1.459 SSI Parks and Rec Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by increasing project 26-08 (Tennis Court Resurfacing) from $55,000 to $105,000 funded by $50,000 donation in 2026”. Moved by Commissioner Webster, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends staff amend the 1.459 SSI Parks and Recreation Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by:
1. Reducing Transfers to Capital Reserves by $10,000 from $158,000 to $148,000 and reducing Transfers to Equipment Replacement by $10,000 from $106,000 to $96,000 and
2. Reducing the requisition by $20,000 from $3,179,695 to $3,159,695 as a one-time reduction in 2026”. Moved by Director Holman, motion carried.
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission recommends that staff amend the 3.705 SSI Liquid Waste Disposal Five Year Financial Plan 2026-2030 by reducing Transfers to Capital Reserves by $10,000 from $46,310 to $36,310 and reducing the requisition by $10,000 from $426,491 to $416,491 as a one-time reduction in 2026”. Moved by Director Holman, motion carried.
- “That the Local Community Commission recommends to the Capital Regional District Board: That the Salt Spring Island 2026-2030 Local Community Commission's 14 service budgets be approved with specific amendments”. Motion carried.
The cumulative impact of the budget motions passed by the LCC resulted in a reduction in the 2026 Final Budget of $62,650, reducing the increase over 2025 to 8.5%.
Motions and Notices of Motion
The LCC passed a motion by Commissioner Webster regarding the creation of additional operating reserve funds:
- “That the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission request that staff establish operating reserve funds for the following services: 1.116 SSI Grants-in-Aid, 1.142 SSI Public Library, and 1.378 Search & Rescue”.
The next meeting of the Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission will be its regular monthly evening meeting. It will be held in the Board Room at SIMS at 5:00 on Thursday, February 12 and is open to the public. The agenda is expected to include a staff report on the old fire hall, LCC comments on the Islands Trust Policy draft, and several motions from Commissioners. The agenda package will be available online by the end of business on Friday, February 6. Anyone interested in addressing the LCC on matters included on the agenda should apply to make a delegation.
This LCC meeting report was prepared by Earl Rook, Chair, Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission.
