City Budget

The City strives to maintain quality programs and services for citizens and keep taxes affordable for our businesses and households.    

Annually the City updates the 5-year Financial Plan and the 10-year Project Plan.  Balancing changing needs and priorities within the community.    

Upcoming Budget Sessions:

2020 -  2024 Draft Financial Plan Presentations

• Departmental Business Plans - Day 1

November 20, 2019 from 9:00am to 4:15pm at the Vancouver Island Conference Center (VICC) 

• Budget Highlights
• CAO's Office
• Legislative Services & Communications 
• Human Resources
• Finance
• IT
• Emergency Measures
• RCMP/Police Services

• Departmental Business Plans - Day 2

November 22, 2019 from 9:00am to 4:00pm at VICC

• Development Services
• Park, Recreation & Culture
• Engineering & Public Works
• Nanaimo Fire Rescue

• 2020 - 2024 Draft Project Plan

November 25, 2019 from 9:00am to 3:00pm at the VICC

• 2020 - 2024 Draft Financial Plan Review 

December 2, 2019 from 9:00am to noon - location to be announced

• E-Town Hall 

December 2, 2019 before regular council meeting

Annual Financial Plans

The City’s integrated planning framework is comprised of separate but complementary planning processes.  These processes support alignment and integration of resources and activities to achieve the strategic goals and priorities set by Council. 

  In compliance with the Community Charter, the Financial Plan is developed through public consultation and Council direction.  Prior to May 15th each year, Council must adopt both a Five Year Financial Plan bylaw and a Property Tax Rates bylaw.

2019 – 2022 Strategic Plan

In early 2019, Council developed and adopted the 2019 - 2022 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan has four strategic themes and ten focus areas, which set out Council priorities and will guide Council decision making and the Financial Plan over the Council term. 

The four strategic themes for the plan are:

1. Governance Excellence
2. Environmental Responsibility
3. Economic Health
4. Livability

20 Year Investment Plan

On April 5, 2017, staff presented a 20 Year Infrastructure Investment Plan to Council.  The plan included projected investment required over the next twenty years for current infrastructure renewal, for new/upgraded infrastructure required due to growth and for specific investment.

Development of the City's first 20 Year Infrastructure Investment Plan was led by the City's Asset Management Steering Committee and included input from the DCC Review Committee.  Both committees have representation from across the organization including engineering, development, facilities, IT and finance disciplines.

The 20 Year Infrastructure Investment Plan identified a projected infrastructure investment need of $1.1 billion with current funding strategies providing $794 million.  The total potential funding gap is $258 million.  The gap is comprised of a funding shortfall of $117 million in development contribution charges for new and upgraded infrastructure required due to growth and $141 million for infrastructure renewal funded from general revenues and reserves.  Council approved the following recommendations to close the funding gap:

• Continuation of 1% annual increase to property taxes to 2022 for contributions to the General Asset Management Fund Reserve
• Completion of the DCC Review and adoption of new rates bylaw
• Continued development of the City's asset management capacity

The new DCC rate bylaw was adopted in the Spring of 2018.  The City's Asset Management Steering Committee is currently leading several key initiatives.

Read the 20 Year Investment Plan.

Get Involved!

Citizens have an opportunity to provide their input and engage in budget discussions once a Draft Financial Plan is presented to Council.  Here is how:

• Attend Council and Finance and Audit Committee Meetings on Budget discussions
• Participate in the annual eTOWN Hall Meeting to discuss the City of Nanaimo's annual budget

2019 - 2023 Financial Plan

The Final 2019 – 2023 Financial Plan was adopted by Council on May 6, 2019.  The budget reflects decisions made by Council during the budget review process in 2018 and the Spring of 2019.

Read the 2019-2023 Financial Plan Quick Facts  for highlights of the Final 2019 – 2023 Financial Plan.

Read the Final Budget in Brief  for an overview of the plan.

 2018 - 2022 Financial Plan

The Final 2018 – 2022 Financial Plan was adopted by Council on May 9, 2018.  The budget reflects decisions made by Council during the budget review process in 2017 and the Spring of 2018.

Read the 2018-2022 Financial Plan Quick Facts* for highlights of the Final 2018 – 2022 Financial Plan.

*Revised June 1, 2018 for School District Tax Rate.