Residents in Sidney and across the region will see a new line item on their property tax bills starting in 2027 to support local cultural venues. The Capital Regional District board officially adopted a bylaw on April 8, 2026, to establish a regional funding service for performing arts facilities.
The new service follows an approval process that saw very little public opposition. Only 150 forms were submitted against the proposal, falling far below the 31,574-person threshold required to trigger a public vote. This allows the regional government to move forward with plans to invest up to $3 million annually into arts facilities across 13 municipalities and the Southern Gulf Islands.
The funding will be used to support three existing theatres: the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney, as well as the Royal Theatre and McPherson Playhouse in Victoria. These venues have faced decades of financial challenges, with funding levels for the two Victoria theatres remaining stagnant since the late 1990s. This lack of adjustment resulted in a 40 per cent loss in purchasing power for those operations over the last 25 years.
The new regional service is expected to cost approximately $2.3 million annually. This amount combines the $1.35 million already allocated to existing theatre operations with about $1 million in new funding. This extra capital will provide grants for planning and feasibility studies, help with maintenance and accessibility renovations, and offer rental subsidies for non-profit community arts groups.
While the board has officially adopted the change, 2026 will serve as a transition year. Property owners can expect to see the new tax rate, set at $0.0171 per $1,000 of property value, reflected in their municipal budgets beginning in 2027.
