Back to SearchThe Regional District of Central Okanagan is preparing its 2022 – 2026 Financial Plan. There are several ways that residents may learn about and comment on the fiscal priorities outlined in the budget.
Unlike municipalities, the regional district does not have one tax rate. The RDCO has more than 80 individual services provided and paid for by different combinations of taxpayers across the Central Okanagan. Each service budget is separate, and all assets, revenues, expenses, reserves, surpluses, or deficits remain within the service.
The Regional Board determines how local services will be financed and its Strategic Priorities provide direction on implementing this vision. Focus areas include:
- Environment
- Economic Development
- Sustainable Communities
- Transportation and Mobility
Presentations and information about the Financial Plan will be available at two upcoming meetings:
- Thursday, March 3 – 8:30 a.m.
- Thursday, March 17 – 8:30 a.m.
As physical distancing limits in-person attendance at meetings, each session will be livestreamed and recorded. Information on how to access these is available at rdco.com/agenda.
Comments and feedback about the Financial Plan may be provided to the Regional Board by email or regular mail by March 11. Details and an email link is available at rdco.com/budgets. That is also where Financial Plan information will be available throughout the budget process.
The Regional Board will give final consideration and adopt the 2022 – 2026 Financial Plan at its meeting Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m.
Regional District Backgrounder
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is one of 27 regional districts, unique to the Province of BC.
The form of regional local government is modeled as a federation, composed of four municipalities:
- Kelowna
- West Kelowna
- Lake Country
- Peachland
and two unincorporated electoral areas:
- Central Okanagan East
- Central Okanagan West
Based on population, municipal councils appoint the elected representatives to the Regional Board, while residents in the electoral areas directly elect one Director each to represent them. Westbank First Nation Chief and Council appoint a non-voting representative to the Board. Through a Services Agreement with the RDCO, WFN funds and receives and some specified services from the Regional District.
The Regional Board determines how local services will be financed and has outlined its Strategic Priorities, providing staff direction on implementing this vision.
Unlike municipalities, the regional district does not have one tax rate. The RDCO has more than 80 individual services provided and paid for by different combinations of taxpayers across the Central Okanagan. Each service budget is separate, and all assets, revenues, expenses, reserves, surpluses, or deficits remain within the service.
- All property owners contribute towards region-wide services such as Regional Parks, Dog Control, Economic Development, 9-1-1 and Recycling
- Property owners within a participating area contribute towards sub-regional services such as the Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (West Kelowna, Peachland, Westbank First Nation) and Regional Crime Prevention (West Kelowna, Peachland, Lake Country, Westbank First Nation, electoral areas)
- Acting as the general local government for communities within the unincorporated electoral areas, the RDCO provides local services such as community parks, building inspection, planning and bylaw enforcement. The RDCO also maintains and operates six local water systems and provides fire protection through four paid-on-call departments paid for by property owners in participating service areas.
The regional district also differs from municipalities because it does not collect taxes directly. It requisitions funds from each local government on behalf of their residents and the Province which collects property taxes in each electoral area.
More Information about the Regional District form of governance
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