Maintaining Reliable Services
About forty percent say maintaining reliable services is their top priority while planning responsibly for the future.
Each year City Council and City Staff work together to develop an annual budget and five-year financial plan to guide where tax dollars, funding, and resources are allocated during the coming year. The City’s budget is guided by Council's strategic priorities, the need to maintain and replace our infrastructure and assets, continuing to offer essential services, and priorities expressed by the community.
Project Overview
Developing the 2026 Budget
Budget Guidelines Survey - Key Themes
This year, we gathered feedback early in the process to get your input on your priorities to help inform Council's direction to staff. By engaging with you earlier in the budget development process, there is more opportunity for your input to shape the final 2026 budget and influence what services and projects are prioritized.
-
-
Funding Growth with Growth
Two-thirds supported the use of new development revenues and updated fees to support staff and systems needed to manage increased demand.
-
Building Reserves
A majority (68%) supported gradually increasing reserve contributions to reduce future risk and debt.
Budget Guidelines for 2026
In November, Council endorsed a set of seven guidelines to shape the development of the 2026 Budget. The guidelines were informed in part by the results of a public survey and ensure that the 2026 Financial Plan is aligned with Council's Strategic Plan and priorities from the beginning.
Provide online and in-person opportunities for dialogue and feedback on the budget.
Prioritize essential municipal services such as infrastructure maintenance and replacement, development, utilities, legislative requirements, and records and data management.
Using growth-related revenue, such as non-market change to offset increased demand.
Develop departmental budgets and workplans to advance Council's Strategic Plan goals, with any new spending or budget requests formed around Council's priorities.
Set clear targets for reserve contributions to plan for the future and protect core services.
Only adding staff to advance Council's Strategic Plan and priorities, reach core-service sustainability, or to run a new City facility or program.
Maintain stable funding allocations based on the 2025 funding levels with any adjustments based on additional funding requests or consideration of new submissions.
What's Next?
In February we will begin hosting a series of Special Budget Meetings to present the draft operating and capital budgets to Council for their consideration.
After the draft budget has been presented, we'll develop a high-level 'Budget at a Glance' document to provide you with an overview of the plans for the upcoming years, connect again through a series of pop-up budget engagement events, and provide an additional online opportunity for feedback.
Stay Informed! Help Shape the 2026 Budget
As we move through the 2026 Budget Process you'll find reports, feedback opportunities and information on this page.
