March 10, 2023 - Islands Trust Council Approves 2023/24 Budget

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
March 10, 2023 – for immediate release 2023-03-IT 
 
Islands Trust Council Approves 2023/24 Budget 
 
Lək
̓
 ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, B.C. – Islands Trust Council has approved the 2023/24 budget of $9.7 million.  
 
"This was a challenging budget year as the Province of BC has approved new collective agreements that have resulted in 
salary increases outside of Trust Council’s control. Like island communities, Islands Trust is also affected by high inflation,” 
said Islands Trust Council Chair Peter Luckham. “To keep tax increases low, trustees made difficult choices and 
compromises as they prepared a budget to support the work to preserve and protect the Trust Area into the 2023/24 
fiscal year.” 
 
The approved budget for 2023/24 of $9.7 million assumes that Islands Trust will maintain existing service levels, support a 
new Governance Committee and a new Accessibility Committee, and undertake select projects including:  
 
 Denman Island Housing Review Project 
 Gabriola Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Comprehensive Review 
 Gambier Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Targeted Review 
 Hornby Island Official Community Plan Amendment 
 Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Major Review 
 Salt Spring Island Ganges (Shiya’hwt/SYOW̱ T) Village Area Plan 
 Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Alliance  
 Stewardship education program 
 Administrative support to regional coordination groups  (e.g. Átl'ka7tsem/Howe Sound Community Forum, Rural 
Islands Economic Partnership) 
 Species at risk protection program through Islands Trust Conservancy 
 
The budget also includes funding for three new staff positions:  
 Manager, Finance and Accounting (full-time, permanent) - will oversee the day-to-day financial operations in a 
financial controller capacity 
 Local Trust Committee Meeting Administrator (full-time, temporary)  - will coordinate livestreaming/recording of 
in-person local trust committee meetings 
 Administrative Coordinator (full-time, permanent) - will provide administrative assistance to the new Governance 
Committee, a future Accessibility Committee and the reconciliation program. The position will also lead 
development and maintenance of operating procedures throughout the organization 
 
  
 
News Release 
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information@islandstrust.bc.ca |www.islandstrust.bc.ca 

 
Highlights of the approved 2023/24 budget: 
 
 Total planned spending of $9.7M, with $8.6M directed to operations, $651,296 directed to special projects, and 
$134,300 for the purchase of capital assets 
 2.06% increase to the existing local trust area tax base plus an additional 8.01% tax revenue expected from new 

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