Islands Trust works to preserve and protect over 450 islands and surrounding waters in the Salish Sea with First Nations, residents, property owners, and all British Columbians. Each year, the Islands Trust Council develops a budget to guide its activities.
Islands Trust has not conducted public engagement on the annual budget since 2022. This year, Islands Trust piloted a new process to get public input that will be considered as part of the budget development process.
The Islands Trust 2026-27 Budget Consultation survey ran from May 1 to June 28, 2025. During the budget development process, public feedback will be reviewed alongside other key factors, including operational needs, legislative requirements, and Trust Council’s 2025–2028 Strategic Plan. Trust Council will consider survey results and related reports early in their decision-making. Results will be available in August, 2025 here.
The Approved 2025/26 Budget
At the March 2025 Trust Council meeting, Trust Council approved a budget. The approved budget for 2025/26 ($11.2 million) assumes that Islands Trust will maintain existing service levels, support a new Accessibility Committee, and undertake select projects. View a breakdown of the budget numbers.
Budget Highlights
- Total planned spending of $11.2M, with $10.2M directed to operations, $704,000 directed to special projects, and $261,000 directed to capital spending
- A 5.8% increase to the existing local trust area tax base plus an additional 2.5% tax revenue expected from new construction and development in local trust areas
- A 17.6% ($68,740) increase to the Bowen Island Municipal tax levy, of which 1.2% is expected to come from new construction and development in the Municipality, with the remaining 16.4% representing a true increase to the existing tax base
- A 2.0% ($219,500) increase in total planned spending for operations, projects, and capital purchases
- A 5.3% ($596,000) of overall budget funded by approved external grants
- $198,100 in application fee revenue
- $211,000 in investment income
- $471,500 in planned transfers from Island Trust surplus and reserve funds
The approved budget for 2025/26 assumes that Islands Trust will maintain existing land use planning service levels, and support various ongoing major projects and initiatives in the Islands Trust Area:
- Denman Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review (housing options focus)
- Gabriola Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
- Gambier Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review and Implementation (heritage preservation/protection, and shoreline and forest ecosystem protection focus)
- Lasqueti Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review
- Mayne Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review (housing options focus)
- North Pender Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review (housing options focus)
- Salt Spring Island Local Trust Area Official Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw Review (housing options and equity focus)
- Continued coordination of implementation of the Salt Spring Island Watershed Protection Plan (2022-2032)
- Hornby Island Local Trust Committee relationship building with K’ómoks First Nation
- Islands Trust Policy Statement Review and Amendment (Islands 2050)
- Stewardship education program
- History and heritage conservations grants-in-aid program
- Reconciliation Action Plan update and implementation
- Administrative support to regional coordination groups (e.g. Southern Gulf Islands Forum, Howe Sound Community Forum)
- Species at risk protection program through the Islands Trust Conservancy
- Improvements to bylaw compliance and enforcement services