Every year, as part of the budget process, we ask residents to provide their input about priorities and satisfaction with Town of Golden programs and services, and to help inform Council decisions on the 2025 municipal budget and long-term financial planning.
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts during this year’s budget engagement! Here is what we heard:
- Top Priorities: Water, sewer, roads, fire protection, and community planning topped the list of services residents want us to focus on in 2025.
- Satisfaction: Snow removal and garbage/recycling services received the highest satisfaction scores.
- Investment Preferences: Most residents want to “invest more” in core infrastructure, especially water and sewer.
- How You Stay Informed: Your top ways to hear from us? Social media, our website, and the email newsletter (sign up at golden.ca/newsletter)
View the full What We Heard Report.
Key Issues
As part of the survey, residents also highlighted some key issues. Here’s what they are and what we’re doing:
Core Infrastructure: Residents emphasized the need to upgrade aging water and sewer systems, prioritize essential services, and improve active transportation.
- What we’re doing: Key projects as part of the 2025 Budget include the continued development of Well 7, sanitary sewer pipelining and system inspections, and the milling and repaving of 8th Avenue South as part of ongoing infrastructure renewal. Over the last two years, the Town has completed a Transportation and Active Transportation Plan, Sanitary Sewer Master Plan, Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrades Feasibility Study and Integrated Water Strategy to understand the current state of infrastructure and asset management needs now as well as infrastructure required from new development.
Housing Affordability and Development Pressure: Residents expressed concerns about the cost of housing and delays in new development. Many said that developers, not taxpayers, should pay for the infrastructure needed to support growth.
- What we’re doing: The 2025 Budget includes the start of a new Official Community Plan (OCP) and updates to the Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw. DCCs are fees that municipalities charge developers of subdivisions or new buildings. These fees help fund the infrastructure required to support the new development. This process is now underway, learn more at www.golden.ca/dcc. In addition, a Development Related Offsite Infrastructure Capital Cost Guide, with examples, was created to help provide background to the the Town and the development community on financing growth related infrastructure. Further, the Town of Golden sold land at a 1/3 discount to Golden Community Economic Development for an affordable housing project. Construction is anticipated to start in September of 2025. Learn more about the project: https://goldenced.ca/about-us/housing/downtown-housing/
Taxation, Spending, and the Budget: Residents asked the Town to take a closer look at spending, cut unnecessary costs, and be more transparent about the budget. Many want the Town to focus on essential services instead of extras and are concerned about ongoing tax increases without seeing clear benefits.
- What we’re doing: Municipalities in B.C. are required by law to adopt a Five-Year Financial Plan each year to guide long-term budgeting and decision-making. This plan helps ensure financial stability, supports strategic priorities, and promotes transparency by showing how tax dollars will be spent. It also links policy goals to actual funding and provides the public with a clear picture of the Town’s future spending plans. Staff work to continuously improve the budget process and information year over year and will continue this work for 2026. Spending for 2025 focuses on projects related to investing in core infrastructure and planning for a resilient and growing future. Learn more about the highlights and projects at www.golden.ca/budget.
Vacant and Derelict Buildings: Residents commented on vacant buildings, and buildings they feel are derelict or poorly maintained, sharing frustrations that these buildings damage the aesthetic of the Town and are barriers to economic revitalization.
- What we’re doing: The reasons or situations that lead to vacant buildings are varied and complex. If the property taxes are being paid, the building does not pose a public safety hazard, and the property is not unsightly, its owner has the right to choose if their building is active or not. Visit www.golden.ca/vacantbuildings to learn more about the complexities of this issue.
Aquatics: Many residents had questions about the status of the indoor pool project and the current state of funding it.
- What we’re doing: The Mayor and Town staff are actively working with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District to explore the feasibility of the indoor pool project or renovating the outdoor pool into an extended season or year-round facility, provided that it makes sense physically, logistically, and financially.