Islands Trust said it is considering a budget increase to support its mandate for the 2026/27 fiscal year.
The draft budget proposes total planned spending of $11.9 million, with most of the funds directed to operations, according to the trust’s website.
“Eleven million dollars will be directed to operations, $641,501 to special projects and $193,000 directed to capital purchases,” the trust said in a statement.
The proposed tax increase of 13.9 per cent would cover 7.1 per cent in lost revenue streams, 3.7 per cent for elections and base staff salary wage increases, and 3.1 per cent for discretionary spending and inflation.
The budget is expected to cover several key initiatives, including $140,000 for land protection plans, $274,500 for land use planning projects on Denman Island, Gabriola, Galiano, Lasqueti and Salt Spring Island, and $208,000 for region-wide projects.
The trust said it has removed more than $500,000 in proposed funding that would have impacted grants, climate action education and staffing positions.
It said the 13.9 per cent tax increase would equate to about $55 to $60 more on an average property compared with the previous year’s levy.
While most of the region would see an increase of up to 14 per cent, Islands Trust noted Bowen Island’s contribution would rise 16.46 per cent.
“The Bowen Island contribution, like all of the local trust areas, is based on the percentage of property values across the Islands Trust area,” the statement said. “For fiscal 2026/27, Bowen Island holds the second-highest share of property value (16.46 per cent). As a result, they’ll contribute this towards the cost of the budgets, and a smaller share toward general administration.”
That means a tax increase on the average Bowen Island property would range between $50 and $55, with the Island Trust property tax levy on an average property valued at $1.367 million between $240 and $245.
More deliberations on the budget are scheduled before the trust finalizes the draft proposal, and it said public engagement is welcome via its website.
