The Regional District of Nanaimo topped a new CFIB report on spending efficiencies for administrative costs, compared with services provided. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

CAUTIOUS SPENDING

Report shows Regional District of Nanaimo most efficient government for admin spending

Sep 3, 2025 | 1:18 PM

NANAIMO — Spending from the Regional District of Nanaimo, particularly related to administrative costs, is among the province’s best.

A new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) highlights spending habits from regional districts across the province, the amount of money spent in administrative operating costs, and how those choices affect small business operations.

CFIB Director of B.C. Legislative Affairs Ryan Mitton said the RDN’s spending on bureaucracy was ranked best in the province when compared to inflation, property taxes and services offered.

“One of the pleasing things to see is among groups like the Nanaimo Regional District…they’re decreasing, or in some cases minimizing, their overall administrative cost growth, which is good to see when it compares to the total cost of population increases, inflation and property tax increases which means as the district is growing, it’s still maintaining efficiencies.”

Regional Districts for North Okanagan, Peace River, Fraser Valley and qathet (Powell River) rounded out the top five.

Dominating the Eagles

Clippers win big in Surrey

5h ago

changing rooms

New dressing room under construction at Oceanside Place

21h ago

Parksville trail

Parksville trail project linking Community Park and Englishman River Estuary to get underway

Feb 22, 2026

Sunshine Coast Regional District was ranked as the least efficient spender, with the Capital, Alberni-Clayoquot, Mount Waddington and Cariboo regional districts not far behind.

The study found the RDN spent just two per cent of its total expenditures in 2023 on administrative costs, making it equal to the lowest with Central Okanagan.

The RDN also had the third lowest administrative cost per capita and the lowest administrative cost growth over a five year span between 2018 and 2023.

However, the news was not all positive for the RDN.

Nanaimo ranked third most costly in property taxes for small business operations, at $30,026, behind only Fraser Fort-George and Sunshine Coast.

Mitton said despite a high cost of doing business locally, the RDN should be praised for their practices balancing admin costs with services provided.

“As services expand, as populations grow as costs go up, we’re not just spending more money on bureaucracy, we’re finding ways to be efficient. We’re collaborating, and we’re working across departments so that’s always what we like to see happen amongst efficient Regional Districts.”

The report makes recommendations to senior government, among which Mitton added, was the return of an Auditor General for Local Government.

He said provincial oversight was needed in this area.

“Small businesses are feeling like they’re not getting good value for money from their Regional Districts, they’re feeling like they don’t have a lot of communication with them and so, restoring provincial oversight would help small businesses ensure that their tax dollars are being well spent.”

The full report is available here, on the CFIB website.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 FM The Eagle

Follow us on Facebook. Join Everything Nanaimo on Facebook and stay connected with everything happening on central Vancouver Island.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook