| Metro Vancouver Completes First Phase of Services and Cost Efficiencies Review | Metro Vancouver Completes First Phase of Services and Cost Efficiencies Review | | <div class="ExternalClass7DE112CF3C3F458085AD4CECCD4061CC"><p>On Friday, February 21, the Metro Vancouver Board held a Special Board Meeting to discuss a selection of programs and initiatives delivered by the regional district and confirm whether the Board still finds value in delivering those services at a regional level.</p><p>This discussion was part of the Metro Vancouver Services and Cost Efficiencies Review, which was initiated by the Board in November 2024.</p><p>“The regional district model allows member jurisdictions to come together to provide services for the region while benefitting from economies of scale and regional expertise," said Mike Hurley, Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors. “Our programs have always been about providing the very best quality of life to our region's residents. Today's discussion and decisions by the Board were an important part of our collaboration as a region, and validated where we collectively feel we should be focused in the years ahead."</p><p>At the meeting, the Board made the decision to continue the following Metro Vancouver Regional District services and seek opportunities to reduce costs through the remainder of the budgeting process:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>E9-1-1 Call Transfer Service</li><li>Regional Employer Services</li><li>Regional Climate Policy Coordination</li><li>Invest Vancouver</li><li>External contributions toward: Sustainability Innovation Fund, Pacific National Exhibition, Agriculture Awareness Grants, Coquitlam Watershed Roundtable, Seymour Salmonid Society, Regional Cultural Grants</li></ul><p>At the meeting, the Board voted to discontinue grant funding to the Fraser Basin Council starting in 2026.</p><p>Further discussion and decisions on two items have been deferred to the February 28 Board Meeting:</p><ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Housing Development Fund</li><li>Zero Waste Collaboration Initiatives</li></ul><p>The Services and Cost Efficiencies Review will continue for the next couple months with each department presenting potential operational cost saving opportunities. The outcome of the review will be input for the 2026 budget and five-year financial plan.</p><p>“Coming together as a Board to review these programs and initiatives is an important part of a democratic and transparent process to validate what Metro Vancouver does to serve this region," said John McEwen, Vice Chair of the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors. “While the conversations have been challenging, we deeply appreciate the thoughts shared by members of the Board and the public as we have made this first step in our Services and Cost Efficiencies Review process."</p><p>Over the last five years, Metro Vancouver has worked hard to keep rates as affordable as possible to residents, while also ensuring our infrastructure and services meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. This has included keeping rate increases as low as 3.2 per cent in 2021 and 3.5 per cent in 2022 as the world worked through the impacts of COVID-19 and identifying more than $650 million in deferrals within the five-year financial plan capital program through the Financial Plan Task Force in 2023.</p><p>Metro Vancouver currently has two additional reviews underway. Information on all of the reviews, and comprehensive information on Metro Vancouver's budget and budgeting process, can all be found at <a href="https://subscription.metrovancouver.org/sites/Media/default.aspx?jg=cf84a34c-405d-46ea-b8ba-7e2f797ea52d&eg=8ebf4697-1041-4082-bcd2-fdd3f4e241e2&lg=50283e04-a446-4374-b452-b039c9991bcf<p=c">metrovancouver.org/boards/reviews-underway</a>.</p><p>The video recording of today's meeting, as well as accompanying presentations and reports, will be available online at <a href="https://subscription.metrovancouver.org/sites/Media/default.aspx?jg=cf84a34c-405d-46ea-b8ba-7e2f797ea52d&eg=8ebf4697-1041-4082-bcd2-fdd3f4e241e2&lg=97a16594-61c0-403e-82da-43c0156dd9d6<p=c">metrovancouver.org/boards/meeting/3311</a>. <br></p></div> | 2/21/2025 8:00:00 AM | | Metro Vancouver Media Relations | media@metrovancouver.org | | |