he Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) ended the financial year of 2013 in the red, with a deficit of nearly $540,000, according to the audited financial statement that was made public by the regional district earlier this month.
Total revenue actually increased for the RDBN in 2013, up to $11,367,915 compared to 2012 revenue, which came in at $11,208,830, yet despite the increase in revenue, albeit a small one, the RDBN still found itself in the hole $539,962 in 2013.
The regional district ended 2012 with a $45,907 surplus.
One of the biggest increases in revenue in 2013 was the increase in property tax requisition for electoral areas within the RDBN, which increased from $4,223,356 in 2012 to $4,629,158 in 2013, although property tax requisition in municipalities actually decreased from $3,076,001 in 2012 to $2,837,337 in 2013.
In total, combining revenues from both property taxes in electoral areas and property taxes in municipalities, total revenue increased in 2013 to $7,526,535 up from $7,299,357 in 2012.
Another significant increase to revenue in the RDBN in 2013 came from money collected from fees and permits, which increased to $872,754 in 2013 from $821,532 in 2012.
Other areas of revenue increase in the RDBN in 2013 include increases in municipal cost sharing, municipal debt payments, grants in lieu of taxes and other conditional grants.
Grant money from federal grants and money from provincial grants decreased significantly in 2013 compared to 2012, as the RDBN saw money from federal grants decrease $100,369 to a total of $543,334 and money from provincial grants decreased $139,522 to a total of $122,432 in 2013.
Revenue from property taxes and utility user fees is recognized in the period to which it relates and revenue from government and other grants is recognized in the year which it is approved by the funders.
While revenue brought in by the RDBN slightly increased, just over $150,000, the increase in spending far outstripped additional revenue brought in during 2013.
Expenses for the RDBN for 2013 totalled $11,907,877, more than a $700,000 increase from 2012 when expenses totalled $11,162,923.
One of the biggest increases to expenses by the RDBN in 2013 came from environmental services, which includes liquid waste management, recycling, including the Encorp Pacific Return-It program, funding to the Northwest Invasive Plant Council, which the RDBN is a part of and the management of the waste site up Babine Lake Road.
In total spending on environmental services increased to $3,809,291 in 2013 up from $3,466,374 in 2012.
Increase spending on environmental services wasn’t the only area of increase in the RDBN, as spending was increased across the board.
The regional district increased spending on recreation and culture, fire protection and emergency response, building inspection and numbering, planning and development services, street lighting and transportation and sewer and water.
The only area that saw a decrease in spending was for government- general, rural and local commission services, which saw a decrease of $117,029 from $2,737,011 in 2012 to $2,619,982 in 2013.
Staff renumeration also increased in 2013, from $2,932,256 in 2012 to $3,623,537, an increase of $91,281 in payments to staff at the RDBN.
While staff renumeration increased, renumeration for RDBN’s board of directors decreased in 2013 from $272,894 in 2012 to $257,687 a decrease of $15,207.
While the RDBN ran an annual deficit in 2013 the net surplus continues to be positive at $14,616,606.
The net surplus includes operating revenue, reserve revenue, capital revenue and non-financial assets.
