CVRD Budget 2026

Planning for Tomorrow: The CVRD 2026 Budget

The Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) Budget is comprised of 179 separate services (139 General and 40 Water & Sewer). The Local Government Act requires Regional Districts to keep separate records for each service. The 2025 Annual Budget (CVRD Bylaw No. 4629 - Five Year Financial Plan),was adopted by the Board on February 26, 2025.

2025 Draft Budget Virtual Presentation

The CVRD hosted a virtual presentation in December 2024 to walk through the Draft 2025 Budget. The recording is a great way to get an overview of how the regional district builds its annual budget, what’s included in the draft, and how it could affect residents depending on their Electoral Area or Municipality.

You can watch the presentation anytime on the CVRD YouTube channel:

CVRD 2025 Draft Budget Presentation

Background

Every year, the Finance Department prepares a financial plan outlining the resources required to deliver services, initiatives, and capital projects as laid out in the 2023–2026 CVRD Strategic Plan and guided by the Regional Board.

Financial indicators can also influence annual budgets, including local infrastructure upgrades, climate impacts, and unforeseen global events such as tariffs. We strive to evaluate overall organizational requirements, new initiatives, proposed service levels, and the financial implications for our communities.

Effective debt management, asset management, and risk assessment are key to planning for what is most needed in the CVRD.

Regional Services

Every CVRD service has its own group of participants and only those participants pay for the service. Each service has its own separate budget – revenues and costs cannot be shifted from one service to another and no service is permitted to run an operating deficit.

Get Involved and Stay Informed

Budgeting in the CVRD is a year-round process, and community input is always encouraged. We invite you to share your thoughts on the services your tax dollars support.

Subscribe for Updates:

Learn about our financial planning and annual budgeting process and ask questions. Sign-up to receive notifications whenever new budget information is released to help you understand how your tax dollars are spent.

Explore the Budget:

Take a look at the Annual Budget and check out the Property Tax Inserts for each Electoral Area and Municipality within the CVRD to see how funds are being used, where the money comes from, and the services provided in your community.

Ask a Question:

Use the Q&A form below to submit your questions—our staff will respond, and all Q&A entries are visible to anyone visiting this project page.

Participate

We are committed to helping residents, community partners, board and committee members, and staff work respectfully and fairly to foster inclusive dialogue, deepen understanding, and promote meaningful involvement on regional issues.
We encourage you to participate when and where you can, and to share your thoughts on Budget 2026.

Attend a budget meeting in-person or online:

Unable to attend a meeting? Email your questions and comments to budget@cvrd.bc.ca

Property Taxes

To request a copy of your Property Tax notice, check your balance, or inquire about payments, please contact the Surveyor of Taxes at 1-888-355-2700.

Unlike surrounding municipalities, the CVRD does not directly collect or issue property taxes for Electoral Area properties. Instead, the Provincial Surveyor of Taxes collects it on behalf of the CVRD and the Cowichan Valley Regional Hospital District (CVRHD).

The CVRD delivers local, sub-regional, and regional services to residents across the electoral areas. Each service has its own budget, and the costs are shared among the participating municipalities and electoral areas based on the service’s bylaw. For services that only reach part of an electoral area, only residents in that specific area pay for them. Find out more about property taxes in rural areas.