June permit revenue for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) was the lowest in 10 years, chief building inspector Peter Longhi reported at the July 25 corporate and administrative services committee meeting.
The six-year average for permit revenues in June is more than $40,000, but this year the SCRD collected just under $19,000.
"Permit volume is still there and steady," Longhi said. "However, the month of June reflected permits of small gross construction value related only to additions and renovations."
Despite the anomaly, Longhi said no year-end deficit is expected, as construction activity is on the rise and several larger projects are waiting in the wings.
"We're watching it carefully," he told the committee.
Library agreement
Directors postponed their decision on a new funding and service agreement for the Sechelt Public Library.
Intended to bring the library's funding closer to the provincial average, the five-year agreement would see total funding rise from $505,000 this year to $628,000 in 2018.
Among the five funding partners, the 2018 contribution would increase to $397,000 for the District of Sechelt, $121,000 for Area B (Halfmoon Bay), $69,000 for Area D (Roberts Creek), $30,000 for Area A (Pender Harbour/Egmont) and $11,000 for the Sechelt Indian Government District.
Other objectives of the agreement include providing certainty of funding to the library and setting clear service level expectations and reporting requirements.
The draft agreement was presented to the corporate and administrative services committee on July 25, and District of Sechelt director Darnelda Siegers said she was prepared to move staff's recommendation for approval.
The committee, however, opted to defer the vote to September, so that staff could clarify per-capita library funding levels and report back on other issues raised at the meeting.
"We're trying to get this done before 2014 budget time, but there's no urgency," treasurer Tina Perreault said at the meeting.
Water plan
SCRD staff will develop a detailed financial plan and rate structure analysis based on the intensive demand management (IDM) recommendations contained in the comprehensive regional water plan.
A key component of the regional water plan, the IDM program will include universal metering, at an estimated life-cycle cost of $8.1 million, and other initiatives aimed at encouraging conservation.
