April 22, 2020 - Trust Council Reduces 2020/21 Budget

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
News Release 
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information@islandstrust.bc.ca     www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
April 22, 2020 2020-10-IT 
Trust Council Reduces 2020/21 Budget 
 
Lekwungen, METULIYE/Victoria, BC—In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on islanders and island communities, the 
Islands Trust Council held its first-ever electronic meeting to re-consider its 2020/21 budget.  
 
"The COVID-19 pandemic has created personal and financial challenges for many islanders,” shared Peter Luckham, Chair of the 
Islands Trust Council, “The world has changed dramatically since we first approved a 2020/21 budget in mid-March. Trustees wanted 
to help, so we held a special Trust Council meeting to discuss how we could reduce taxes. After debating options, Trust Council voted 
to approve a reduced budget that means an 8.1% decrease in the tax requisition to Bowen Island Municipality and an average 0% 
general property tax increase for property owners in local trust areas.” 
 
The budget is now $8.2 million. It was amended by reducing meeting expenses, staff and trustee travel and training, and choosing to 
not hire a co-op student this year due to our current work at home measures.  
 
Budget reductions have not changed Trust Council’s commitment to climate action. During the pandemic, staff have been working 
from home. Staff continue to process development applications and referrals, manage the Islands Trust Conservancy’s protected 
areas and develop Strategic Plan projects, including: 
 Creation of a regional freshwater strategy. 
 Review of foreshore policies and bylaws, and development of a model policy. 
 Development of climate change, demographic, and environmental indicator data sets. 
 Continuation of Coastal Douglas-fir protection work by select local trust committees. 
 Development and implementation of a climate change-focused stewardship education program.  
 Mapping the extent of eelgrass throughout the Trust Area. 
 Continuation of the Policy Statement Amendment Project, which includes consideration of climate change-related policies. 
 
In 2020/21, the Islands Trust budget will be funded by: 
 Property tax revenue from local trust areas: $6,783,140. 
 Property tax revenues from Bowen Island Municipality: $303,021. 
 A draw from accumulated surplus funds:  $501,150.  
 A Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area special property tax requisition of $75,500 to fund continued coordination of watershed 
management in that Local Trust Area. 
 
Details of the approved 2020/21 budget are available on the Islands Trust website.  
 
At the same meeting, due to the current circumstances related to COVID-19, Trust Council voted to cancel its June 2020 in-person 
meeting on

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