Municipal Finance Studies

• TUMBLER RIDGE (1995)
Sussex examined Tumbler Ridge's role in its regional district and compared it to roles played by other resource municipalities all around BC.

• TUMBLER RIDGE (1977 TO 1999)
Sussex prepared complete financial plans for this new town in both the planning stages and the preliminary building phase. Particular emphasis was placed on predicting the financial costs, property tax levels, and affordability of desired municipal services and facilities. More recent work involves measuring the property tax impacts of significant changes to mine employment.

• NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (1987)
Sussex developed a series of municipal finance computer programs for communities in the NWT to test the revenue and expense impacts of large-scale growth.

• SAYWARD (2001-2003)
Sussex examined the impacts of the Village losing half its tax base due to industrial closures, and developed options for dealing with this loss (with assistance from subconsultant Qu'West Consulting).

• GOLD RIVER TAX POLICIES (2001)
Sussex reviewed the Village's tax policies and identified options for adjusting to the community's transition from an industrial tax base to a residential one.

• PRESERVATION OF VICTORIA’S WATER SUPPLY (1996)
Sussex served as a technical advisor to David Perry, the Special Commissioner on the Conservation and Protection of the Greater Victoria's Water Supply. Tasks included assessing the merits of various forms of governance for the stewardship and delivery of the region's water.

• ISLANDS TRUST (1989)
Sussex developed a detailed list of annual operating cost categories for the recently re-organized Islands Trust to use as a framework for the on-going management of the Trust's various functions
and objectives.


• LOCAL GOVERNANCE WORKSHOPS (2004)
Sussex presented the lead information on land use planning, finances and services for discussion at three workshops as part of the Tsawwassen Indian Band settlement negotiations.

• SECHELT DCC POLICIES (2001)
Sussex examined Sechelt's DCCs and compared them to levels in other communities in terms of absolute dollars and in terms of land values.

• SECHELT SEWER FINANCES (2000-01)
Sussex documented the complicated history of Sechelt's sewer funding and tax rates, and recommended policies to streamline the sewer financing system.

• SQUAMISH DCCS (1996)
Sussex examined the consequences of Squamish's long-term capital plan in light of alternate growth rates and DCC policies.

• DELTA DEBT POLICIES (1995)
Sussex prepared a paper outlining a series of candidate policies for Delta to use in managing its use of debt financing for capital projects.

• GOLF COURSE IMPACTS (1991)
Sussex prepared a framework for assessing the municipal finance impacts of golf course developments, as part of an overall study of Lower Mainland golf course planning.

• DELTA PORT DEVELOPMENT (1988)
Sussex advised the municipality of Delta on the potential impacts of a massive development proposal for the Burns Bog lands involving a port, an industrial centre, a business centre, and a residential development of 10,000 people.

• NEW WESTMINSTER (1977, 1982)
Sussex performed two fiscal impact studies of the large-scale waterfront redevelopment initiated by BCDC and the City.


• CRANBROOK FISCAL REVIEW (1997)
Sussex examined the historical trends in the city's spending, assessments, and taxes as part of a comprehensive review of the city's financial position. Budget and tax projections were made for the next 10 years and translated into taxes on an average home. Sussex created a financial projection spreadsheet model for the city to use on a continuing basis.

• DAM TAXATION STUDY (1997)
Sussex examined the local property tax levels that are paid by the hydro generating dams in BC. An inventory of dams was assembled, their taxes documented, and these taxes were then related to generating capacities.

• GREATER TRAIL SERVICES (1993)
Sussex completed a review of the regionalized services in Greater Trail, including alternatives to be considered and a framework for assessing how regionalization is working.

• REVELSTOKE DAM IMPACTS (1986)
Sussex measured the impacts of the dam’s construction on local government finances and services, including development of "without dam" scenarios and development of an index of spending and revenue patterns. The study identified the adequacy of compensation to the local governments.

• ELKFORD (1979-1982)
Various financial impacts were studied to help the municipality draw up growth strategies in preparation for expanded coal mining.

• SPARWOOD (1980, 1982)
The fiscal impacts of building and running an indoor pool were measured in light of rapid community growth. Another study examined the tax impacts of specified area improvements. Belcarra (1982). Sussex examined the financial capacity of the Village in terms of its assessment base and projected spending levels.

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