Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) Financial Plan and public engagement journey has resulted in receiving prestigious recognition at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention last week. The FVRD Board and staff received the Honourable Mention award in the Excellence in Governance category for the 2024 UBCM Community Excellence Awards.

Approximately 114 unique service areas, all with distinct purposes, unique tax bases, and specific revenues and expenses that cannot be combined with other service areas are managed by the FVRD. In June of each year, FVRD staff begins with preparation of the Financial Plan and the FVRD Board completes their in-depth review of the five-year financial plan by March of the following year. Public engagement was expanded in 2024 to focus on education and transparency. The public engagement platform, HaveYourSay formally launched the 2024 Budget planning process where residents were encouraged to comment on the Budget process and utilize a variety of knowledge building resources.

“Today, with the overwhelming flow of information, engaging residents throughout our budget process requires focused and deliberate efforts,” said Jason Lum, FVRD Board Chair. “I am extremely proud of the dedication shown by our staff and the Board in enhancing transparency and strengthening public trust in the complexities of regional district budgeting,” he said.    

As part of the Local Government Act requirements, the Financial Plan requires bylaw adoption by March 31 each year. The 2025 Budget public engagement is set to release later this month on HaveYourSay.