{
  "id": "city-spending-per-resident",
  "parent": "property-tax-vs-inflation",
  "category": "City finances",
  "title": "City spending per resident",
  "geography": "City of Victoria (municipality)",
  "scope": "city",
  "levels": [
    "Municipal (City budget)"
  ],
  "plain_question": "How much did the City spend in the year, for each person living in Victoria?",
  "value": 22.5,
  "display_value": "+22.5%",
  "unit": "per resident after inflation, 2021 to 2025",
  "period": "Calendar years 2021 to 2025",
  "period_start": "2021-01-01",
  "period_end": "2025-12-31",
  "comparison": {
    "previous_period": "2021 (in 2025 dollars)",
    "previous_value": 2618,
    "change_percent": 22.5
  },
  "level": {
    "period": "2025",
    "value": 3208,
    "display_value": "$3,208",
    "previous_period": "2024",
    "previous_value": 3001
  },
  "headline_compare": {
    "previous_period": "2021",
    "previous_value": 2618,
    "change_percent": 22.5,
    "current_value": 3208,
    "basis": "per resident, in 2025 dollars"
  },
  "since_text": "$2,618 in 2021 (in 2025 dollars) → $3,208 in 2025. As spent: $3,001 in 2024, $2,251 in 2021",
  "trend": "context",
  "trend_basis": "Total expenses of $333.3 million for 103,888 residents in 2025 ($3,208 each), compared with $3,001 in 2024 (+6.9%) and $2,251 in 2021. After inflation (Victoria consumer price index), 2021 spending per resident equals $2,618 in 2025 dollars (+22.5% since 2021).",
  "direction_good": "down",
  "right_direction": "Shown for context, without a “better” or “worse” label: spending pays for services, and this site takes no position on the right level.",
  "caveats": [
    "Calculated here: total expenses from the City's audited consolidated statements, divided by the population figure printed in the same report (BC Stats estimate).",
    "Expenses are on an accrual basis and include amortization of roads, buildings and equipment, police, and the water and sewer utilities. Capital spending is not counted directly.",
    "Comparisons between cities need care: services provided by the City in Victoria may be provided by the region or the Province elsewhere.",
    "The inflation-adjusted line uses Statistics Canada's annual average price index for Victoria."
  ],
  "charts": [
    {
      "title": "City spending per resident",
      "fmt": "money",
      "unit": "",
      "lines": [
        {
          "name": "As spent",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 2251
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 2478
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 2740
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 3001
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 3208
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "In 2025 dollars",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 2618
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 2695
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 2873
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 3070
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 3208
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Spending per resident by service, in 2025 dollars (largest five)",
      "fmt": "money",
      "unit": "",
      "breaks": [
        {
          "period": "2022",
          "label": "Some figures reclassified"
        }
      ],
      "lines": [
        {
          "name": "Protective Services",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 1022
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 974
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 1019
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 1072
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 1101
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Parks, Recreation, and Facilities",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 413
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 332
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 501
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 504
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 492
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Transportation Services",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 388
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 376
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 417
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 453
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 473
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "General Government",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 259
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 371
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 289
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 348
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 365
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Planning and Development",
          "area": "city",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2021",
              "value": 132
            },
            {
              "period": "2022",
              "value": 231
            },
            {
              "period": "2023",
              "value": 240
            },
            {
              "period": "2024",
              "value": 273
            },
            {
              "period": "2025",
              "value": 292
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "by_municipality": {
    "title": "Spending per resident by service, in 2025 dollars",
    "heading": "By service",
    "columns": [
      "Service",
      "2021",
      "2022",
      "2023",
      "2024",
      "2025"
    ],
    "rows": [
      [
        "General Government",
        259,
        371,
        289,
        348,
        365
      ],
      [
        "Protective Services",
        1022,
        974,
        1019,
        1072,
        1101
      ],
      [
        "Transportation Services",
        388,
        376,
        417,
        453,
        473
      ],
      [
        "Environmental/Public Health",
        109,
        108,
        108,
        112,
        135
      ],
      [
        "Social Services and Housing",
        23,
        44,
        34,
        35,
        64
      ],
      [
        "Planning and Development",
        132,
        231,
        240,
        273,
        292
      ],
      [
        "Parks, Recreation, and Facilities",
        413,
        332,
        501,
        504,
        492
      ],
      [
        "Water Utility",
        213,
        197,
        203,
        197,
        221
      ],
      [
        "Sewer Utility",
        57,
        62,
        62,
        75,
        66
      ]
    ],
    "note": "Expenses by Function from the Annual Report 2025 Statistics section, divided by the population in the same report, adjusted with the Victoria consumer price index. The report says: “Protective Services is comprised of four different functions, including the City’s Emergency Management Division, Fire, Police and Bylaw Services.” It also says: “Certain comparative information has been reclassified to conform to financial statement presentation for the adopted current year.” Compare 2021 with later years with care."
  },
  "calc": {
    "formula": "Spending per resident = total expenses ÷ population. In today's dollars = spending per resident × price index (latest year) ÷ price index (that year).",
    "steps": [
      "2023: $275,501,000 ÷ 100,552 = $2,740.",
      "2024: $309,297,000 ÷ 103,077 = $3,001.",
      "2025: $333,268,000 ÷ 103,888 = $3,208."
    ],
    "inputs": [
      {
        "name": "Annual Report, Statistics section: total expenses and population",
        "agency": "City of Victoria (Annual Report)",
        "url": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/annual-report-2025",
        "dataset_url": "https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/corporate-strategic-plan/annual-report",
        "period": "2021 to 2025",
        "licence": {
          "name": "Public data, not under an open licence. Used with attribution.",
          "url": "https://www.victoria.ca/legal-disclaimer",
          "open": false
        },
        "data_published": "2026-07-17"
      },
      {
        "name": "Consumer Price Index, all items, annual average, Victoria",
        "agency": "Statistics Canada",
        "url": "https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1810000501",
        "dataset_url": "https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/4be5f92b-8546-4e76-ad98-bcf9d4b8aeed",
        "table": "18-10-0005-01",
        "period": "2021 to 2025",
        "data_published": "",
        "licence": {
          "name": "Open Government Licence - Canada",
          "url": "https://open.canada.ca/en/open-government-licence-canada"
        },
        "attribution": "Adapted from Statistics Canada, table 18-10-0005-01. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product."
      }
    ]
  },
  "refresh_frequency": "Annually (audited report published mid-year)",
  "verified_text": [
    "Population 96,277 98,540 100,552 103,077 103,888",
    "Total expenses (in thousands): Sewer Utility 4,753 5,657 5,902 7,577 6,861 $ 216,693 $ 244,205 $ 275,501 $ 309,297 $ 333,268",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): General Government $ 21,464 $ 33,601 $ 27,708 $ 35,089 $ 37,880",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Protective Services 84,632 88,215 97,725 108,005 114,378",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Transportation Services 32,138 34,041 40,020 45,648 49,133",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Environmental/Public Health 9,022 9,819 10,387 11,275 13,985",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Social Services and Housing 1,883 4,014 3,273 3,548 6,628",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Planning and Development 10,934 20,889 22,970 27,531 30,377",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Parks, Recreation, and Facilities 34,212 30,129 48,073 50,749 51,117",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Water Utility 17,654 17,841 19,444 19,875 22,909",
    "Expenses by Function (in thousands): Sewer Utility 4,753 5,657 5,902 7,577 6,861"
  ],
  "source": {
    "name": "Calculated here from City of Victoria (Annual Report) and Statistics Canada data",
    "url": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/annual-report-2025",
    "dataset_url": "https://www.victoria.ca/city-government/corporate-strategic-plan/annual-report",
    "page_url": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/file/annual-report-2025#page=81",
    "page": 81,
    "locator": "City of Victoria Annual Report 2025, Statistics section, page 81 (population) and page 82 (total expenses)",
    "reads": "Population 2025: 103,888. Total expenses 2025 (in thousands): $333,268"
  },
  "licence": {
    "name": "Public data, not under an open licence. Used with attribution.",
    "url": "https://www.victoria.ca/legal-disclaimer",
    "open": false
  },
  "derived": true,
  "retrieved_at": "2026-11-12T04:45:53Z",
  "data_published": "2026-07-17",
  "attribution": "Adapted from Statistics Canada, table 18-10-0005-01. This does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada of this product.",
  "series": [
    {
      "period": "2021",
      "value": 2251
    },
    {
      "period": "2022",
      "value": 2478
    },
    {
      "period": "2023",
      "value": 2740
    },
    {
      "period": "2024",
      "value": 3001
    },
    {
      "period": "2025",
      "value": 3208
    }
  ],
  "licence_type": "public",
  "source_tier": 1,
  "measure_kind": "input",
  "better_measure": null,
  "status_rule": {
    "rule": "One rule for every measure: a change smaller than 5% of the earlier value, or smaller than the agency's own margin of error, is “About the same”; no change is calculated across a marked break in a series; homelessness estimates, prices, staffing and comparison pages are shown for context without a label.",
    "reason": "Shown for context, without a better or worse label.",
    "threshold_percent": 5.0
  },
  "changes": {
    "year": null,
    "five_year": null
  },
  "direction": {
    "type": "context",
    "rule": "Outcome measures read Better, Worse or About the same; published government targets read Ahead of, On or Behind target; value-judgement measures read Rising, Falling or Steady in a neutral colour. A change smaller than the agency's own margin of error, or otherwise smaller than 5% of the earlier value, is About the same (or Steady). No change is calculated across a marked break in a series.",
    "key": "rising",
    "label": "Rising",
    "arrow": "▲",
    "rel": 22.5,
    "delta": null,
    "vs": "2021",
    "cur": "2025",
    "why": "Spending pays for services; whether it should rise or fall is a policy choice. The change is 22.5% of the earlier value, at or above the 5% threshold.",
    "change": "23%",
    "one_year": "+22.5%",
    "long_why": "The headline is a total the agency’s file does not give for earlier periods, so there is no longer reading."
  },
  "benchmark": {
    "rung": 5,
    "rung_name": "No target found",
    "as_of": "2026-11-12",
    "items": [
      {
        "kind": "none",
        "label": "No target found",
        "text": "No target or limit for total spending or spending per resident found in Schedule 5 (objectives and policies) of the City’s Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw, 2026, as of November 12, 2026. Its only numeric policy is the cap on the business to residential tax ratio. Who could set one: Victoria City Council.",
        "area": "City of Victoria",
        "source": {
          "title": "Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw, 2026 (No. 26-040), Schedule 5",
          "publisher": "City of Victoria",
          "date": "adopted May 7, 2026",
          "url": "https://www.victoria.ca/media/4520",
          "terms": "https://www.victoria.ca/legal-disclaimer",
          "refresh": "Yearly, with the City budget",
          "licence": "Public document, not under an open licence. Quoted with attribution.",
          "checked": "2026-11-12",
          "key": "fin_plan"
        },
        "documents_checked": null
      }
    ],
    "drawn": [],
    "rule": "Highest rung found is shown; the site never sets a target. Methods, Targets."
  },
  "benchmarks": [],
  "highest_rung": 5,
  "decided_by": [
    {
      "body": "COV",
      "name": "City of Victoria Council",
      "decides": "Adopts the financial plan by bylaw each year, then sets property tax rates by bylaw before May 15.",
      "laws": [
        {
          "key": "cc165",
          "label": "Community Charter, s. 165",
          "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_06#section165"
        },
        {
          "key": "cc197",
          "label": "Community Charter, s. 197",
          "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_07#section197"
        }
      ],
      "last": {
        "text": "Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw, 2026 (No. 26-040) and 2026 tax rates adopted May 7, 2026",
        "label": "Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw, 2026 (No. 26-040) and 2026 tax rates adopted May 7, 2026",
        "url": "https://engage.victoria.ca/2026budget"
      },
      "next": {
        "text": "2027 financial plan, then tax rate bylaw before May 15, 2027",
        "label": "Community Charter, s. 197",
        "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/03026_07#section197"
      }
    },
    {
      "body": "POL",
      "name": "Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board",
      "decides": "Prepares the police budget, which the councils approve as part of the City’s spending.",
      "laws": [
        {
          "key": "pa27",
          "label": "Police Act, s. 27",
          "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96367_01#section27"
        }
      ],
      "last": null,
      "next": {
        "text": "Provisional budget due to the councils by November 30, 2026 (Police Act, s. 27)",
        "label": "Police Act, s. 27",
        "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96367_01#section27"
      }
    }
  ],
  "main_decision_maker": "City of Victoria Council",
  "label_1y": {
    "key": "rising",
    "label": "Rising"
  },
  "label_long": null,
  "target_line": {
    "form": 4,
    "text": "No target found",
    "target": null,
    "gap": null,
    "comparison": null,
    "applies_here": false,
    "note": null
  }
}