District of Oak Bay
News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2022

District of Oak Bay receives Distinguished Budget Award

The District of Oak Bay has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the District’s 2021-2025 Financial Plan. 

To earn this award, budget documents must adhere to strict program criteria and excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications tool.

“This award demonstrates the District’s dedication to producing a comprehensive and accessible financial plan that ensures residents have a thorough understanding of how their tax dollars are spent,” stated the Director of Financial Services, Christopher Paine.

The Government Finance Officers Association was founded in 1906 and represents public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. The associations more than 20,000 members are federal, state/provincial, and local finance officials deeply involved in planning, financing, and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions. GFOA’s mission is to advance excellence in public finance.

“I’m very pleased to see the District once again receive this award, highlighting Council and staff’s commitment to transparent and high quality budget and reporting documents,” said Mayor Kevin Murdoch. “As we begin the 2022 budget process, we hope residents take a moment to read the draft 2022-2026 Financial Plan and share their input with us at the three upcoming Budget Meetings.”

2022 Budget Process

The District’s draft 2022-2026 Financial Plan is available for review at www.oakbay.ca/budget. The upcoming budget meetings will take place on the following dates:

• Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting #1
  Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting #2
  Thursday, February 10, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting #3
  Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

Members of the public are encouraged to provide input and can do so in the following ways:

1.   Provide written comments via mail, drop off at Municipal Hall or email to administration@oakbay.ca before noon on the day of the meeting to have your input shared with Council through the Agenda.

2.   Pre-register to speak to Council in-person at the meeting. In-person attendance is limited, please pre-register to attend by emailing administration@oakbay.ca.  

3.   Phone or Zoom in during the live meeting – meeting details are available at  https://oakbay.civicweb.net/portal/.

For more information on public participation during the 2022 budget process, please visit:  https://oakbay.civicweb.net/portal/.  The budget meetings will also be livestreamed at:  https://oakbay.civicweb.net/portal/.   

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For media inquiries, please call:

Christopher Paine
Director of Financial Services
250.598.3311
cpaine@oakbay.ca