Service Area & Referendum
What is a Service Area?
A service area ensures these costs are planned for in a sustainable and predictable way, with a stable funding source in place to cover ongoing expenses and future needs. Taxation for this is based on a service area, which is a defined geographic area, essentially a map, that includes the properties who could be using or benefitting from a community service, such as a hall or gathering space. This is similar to how residents currently support the Clearview Arena. It ensures that the people who directly use or could use or benefit from the community space contribute to its ongoing upkeep rather than the entire Regional District contributing taxation.
If the community decides that it wants a new space, a service area would provide ongoing funding for things like:
- Utilities
- Insurance
- Routine maintenance and repairs
- Long-term replacement and future improvements
The PRRD will likely provide the operating Society with an annual grant to ensure that there is money for operating and maintenance of whatever is built
For this service, the tax would be applied to improvements only:
- "Improvements" means the value of the building on your property, for example, your house, garage, or other permanent structures.
It does not apply to your land value.
The PRRD calculates the tax rate as an amount per $1,000 of assessed value on your buildings (the “improvements” on your land, not just land).
After the community meeting and when the online survey closes, PRRD staff will compile all of the survey responses and present the results to the Regional Board. If there is a clear community consensus on which option is preferred, the Board may choose to proceed to referendum.
What the referendum means
A referendum gives residents the final decision.
A “yes” vote would approve the creation of a service area, the maximum taxation, and construction and operation of the preferred option.
A “no” vote would mean the project does not proceed as proposed, and the Board would need to consider other options for the property.
If we move forward, the referendum is planned to coincide with the October 2026 General Election to support strong voter turnout.
What happens if the referendum fails?
If the community votes with the majority not in favour of the service area and for the community space option, then the Regional Board would need to decide on the future of the property.
