Access to health sevices remains the number one issue for Houston according to the District's annual budget survey.
The District of Houston released its annual budget survey response summary at its end-of-year Regular Council meeting on Dec. 17.
The District is required to adopt a financial plan every year by bylaw, in accordance with the Community Charter. The plan includes the current fiscal year and the next four years. Before the plan can be adopted, council is required to undertake a process of public consultation – the budget survey.
The 2025 survey was released on Oct. 21, 2024 and closed on Nov. 15, 2024. The District had 95 respondents, which was more than double the number it had last year and more than triple the number from 2023. There were 41 respondents in 2024 and 26 in 2023.
Seventy-four out of the 95 respondents identified themselves as female, while 19 identified as male and 2 as self-described other.
Seventy-eight per cent own a home within Houston and five per cent rent a home. Ten per cent indicated that they own both a home and business in the District, while four per cent indicated that they do not live in the area but do access services.
Respondents were asked how important specific community issues were to them and to rate each issue separately. Results showed that access to health services remains an important issue in the District.
Top 5 Community Issues:
1. Access to health services – ranked #1 in 2024 and 2023
2. Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (Sewer, Water & Roads) – ranked #2 in 2024 and 2023
3. Public Safety – ranked #3 in 2024 and in 2023
4. Economic Diversity and Development – ranked #4 in 2024 in 2023
5. Governance and Transparency – ranked #9 in 2024 and #5 in 2023
Other issues included reliable transportation networks, mental health, access to recreation opportunities, age-targeted services, air quality, accessibility, climate change and environmental sustainability, and arts, culture and heritage.
Municipal services were also ranked in terms of importance to the community and how well the District is delivering each type of service.
Top 5 Services and Programs
1, Emergency Services – ranked #1 in 2024 and 2023
2. Water, Sewer and Stormwater Infrastructure – ranked #4 in 2024 and #3 in 2023
3. Economic Development – ranked #6 in 2024 and 2023
4. Animal Control– ranked #7 in 2024 and 2023
5. Road Construction & Maintenance – ranked #3 in 2024 and #5 in 2023
Survey respondents were also asked what method of balancing the budget they think the District should use. Similar to last year's results, there continues to be a shift from a desire for increased user fees for recreational and cultural services in 2023, as only 17.65 per cent of respondents were in favour, compared to 40 per cent in 2023 and 20 per cent in 2024.
A slight property tax increase to maintain current levels of service and a larger property tax increase for higher levels of service were both voted less favourably by respondents compared to 2024, as there was more than a five per cent decrease for both compared to 2024.
Increased utility fees for water, sewer and garbage pickup, as well as no property tax increase and reduction in service levels were both voted more favourably than last year and 2023.
For service levels, respondents in favour of tax or user fee increases indicated that road construction and maintenance is their top priority. Emergency services, which includes fire, road rescue and medical was voted second, with snow removal third.
Over 40 per cent of respondents that were not in favour of tax or fee increases indicated they do not want a decrease in any categories. Arts, culture and heritage was ranked as the lowest priority by those who did select a category. Customer service and public engagement ranked second lowest with bylaw enforcement rounding out the bottom three.
The survey was advertised online on multiple social media sites, as well as, the District website, in the newspaper and at locations around town. Sixty-nine per cent of respondents found out about the survey on Facebook.
Seventy-two per cent of respondents preferred to engage with the district about future budget planning activities through surveys.
Forty per cent of respondents said that the Canfor temporary closure had a significant impact on their personal budget, compared to 26 per cent in 2024. The closure also affected more respondents' ability to use facilities such as the leisure facility or enroll their family in programs such as hockey or swimming lessons, as 42 per cent of respondents said yes compared to 27.5 per cent last year.
Thirty-four per cent of respondents said the impact on their personal budget also affected their ability to pay their property taxes on time, and 42 per cent said they took advantage of the property tax deferral by paying their taxes later than usual.
