Annual report for Fort St. John approved following public questions

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The city has approved its 2024 annual report following a public meeting to discuss financial specifics. 

Shirley Collington, the City of Fort St. John director of finance, presented the 2024 annual report to the council. She outlined the financial conditions indicators, which are 14 key indicators used to determine the financial risks of the municipality. 

Collington explained for 2023 the city had 12 low-risk indicators, two high-risk and one moderate-risk. 

The two high-risk indicators, reliance on transfers and budget deficits in the last five years, were due in part to transfers received by the Peace River Agreement and “several years of surpluses” to the annual budget, Collington noted.

The annual report noted municipal expenses of approximately $80.5 million and an accumulated surplus, or economic resources, at the end of 2024 of $608.78 million. This accounts for all roads, utilities and infrastructure within the municipality.  

Two members of the gallery questioned where the Peace River Agreement funds were being used and how they were acquired.

Milo MacDonald, the chief administrative officer, explained the agreement diverted funds from the provincial government to account for the oil and gas industrial activity which takes place in the region but outside city limits. 

The annual agreement funds account for a third of the city’s total revenue, and the most recent deposit from the agreement was approximately $26 million. 

The duo expressed dissatisfaction about the two per cent of that total which went towards staffing costs, with the other 98 per cent going towards municipal improvement projects such as Festival Plaza. 

Staff and Mayor Lilia Hansen said council is very strict with where the funds from the agreement are spent, and explained staffing costs only come from the employees needed to operate infrastructure built with funds from the agreement.

Following the conclusion of the public meeting, the council unanimously voted in favour of approving the annual report.

To view the complete 2024 annual report for the City of Fort St. John, see below.