Proposed Budget

The proposed budget for the new service is based on information provided by the Dawson Creek Society for Community Living, based on the costs incurred during the feasibility study/pilot project, and their estimate of the additional costs that will be incurred to expand the scope of the service beyond meals, to include home maintenance (snow removal, grass cutting), housekeeping, transportation services, social supports, technology support, and coordination of in home medical services, and expansion of the program beyond a pilot to one that is available to all seniors within the service area boundary wishing to receive the service.

If approved, the budget for this new service to start January 1, 2022 will be vetted through the Rural Budgets Administration Committee, who will recommend a draft budget to the Board, for inclusion in the DRAFT 2022 Annual Financial Plan Bylaw.

Funding for the service will be primarily funded by taxation in the benefitting area. The bylaw allows for cost recovery through fees as well, that would be imposed by a separate bylaw. Implementing a fee for the services is under consideration to decrease the requisition amount and transfer some of the financial burden directly to those residents who take advantage of the service, as opposed to the financial burden being borne solely by the taxpayer who may not be eligible for the service.

There are no capital investments anticipated for the implementation and operation of this service in the next five years. Existing community kitchens, many of whom have been supported by grant-in-aid funding for their construction and operation and maintenance, will be used for meal preparation.

The maximum requisition limit that may be requisitioned in any one year for the service is the greater of $1,900,000 or an amount equal to the amount that could be raised by a property value tax of $0.66/$1,000 when applied to the net taxable value of land and improvements in the service area.