City of Surrey 2020-2024 Financial Plan

FINANCIAL PLANNING PROCESS

PRINCIPLES SPECIFIC TO OPERATING FINANCIAL PLANNING

Ensure that current revenues support current programs. The Financial Plan should provide that current programs are funded from current revenues and that reserves are used only as a temporary balancing measure. Any reserves that are used to balance the Operating Financial Plan should be subsequently replenished. Reward cost-effective innovations. The Financial Plan should reward cost- saving initiatives through a "save and invest" philosophy rather than a “spend it or lose it” approach. This philosophy allows City departments to reinvest their savings from innovation.

Maintain appropriate level of reserves as determined by Council. The Financial Plan should allocate an appropriate level of funds to reserves in order to maintain services throughout economic cycles. Specifically, the Financial Plan should: • Provide adequate funding for unforeseen costs and revenue reductions; • Provide bridge financing for capital projects; and • Allow the City to take advantage of market opportunities.

INFLATIONARY INCREASES USED FOR FINANCIAL PLANNING Departments have been provided with the following additional inflationary increase estimates, as calculated by City vendors:

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Greater Vancouver Regional District Water Fund 5.9%

6.1%

8.8%

9.9%

10.1%

Sewer Fund

4.9%

13.9%

15.6%

13.4%

8.1%

Electricity vendors

General and Utility Funds

2.5%

2.0%

2.0%

2.0%

2.0%

Natural Gas vendors

General and Utility Funds

3.5%

2.0%

2.0%

2.0%

2.0%

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