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As part of its annual financial planning process, the Town has released the Budget Overview for the Proposed 2026 Draft Budget and is inviting public input before February 11, 2026.
Key Highlights of the 2026-2030 Budget
The proposed budget responds to key cost pressures and long-term financial considerations facing the community. It includes a capital investment strategy focused on maintaining and enhancing essential infrastructure while supporting Qualicum Beach’s high quality of life.
The budget is also intended to improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery, while addressing inflationary and contractual cost pressures, including increases to materials and supplies, wages, benefit premiums, insurance, policing, and other mandated expenditures. The property tax increase pressures facing the Town of Qualicum Beach are consistent with those being experienced by neighbouring municipalities.
A presentation outlining the factors considered in the budget process, along with the Budget Overview – Proposed 2026 Budget, are available for public review.
Property Tax Scenarios
To support Council’s decision-making, three municipal property tax scenarios have been presented for consideration. Scenario 1 reflects the operating budget pressures anticipated for 2026, and scenarios 2 and 3 illustrate what the annual tax impact would be with a 7% and 6.5% increase:
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Scenario 1 - 8.1% - $198 annual increase ($17 per month)
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Scenario 2 - 7.0% - $170 annual increase ($14 per month))
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Scenario 3 - 6.5% - $158 annual increase ($13 per month)
These estimates are based on the Town of Qualicum Beach’s average 2026 assessed home value of $959,000, assuming the property’s assessed value did not increase beyond the community average. Individual tax rates may vary depending on how a property’s assessment changed relative to the community average - see how BC Assessment impacts tax rates.
Under Scenario 1, the proposed property tax increase is driven by a 5.7% increase in the operating budget, a 0.7% increase for police services, a 1.3% increase in contributions to the Asset Replacement Reserve, and a 0.4% increase in contributions to the Asset Investment Reserve.
Property Taxes Collected on Behalf of Other Authorities
In addition to municipal property tax, taxes collected by the Town include amounts that are remitted to other taxing authorities. Approximately 51% of property taxes collected are forwarded to external agencies, including:
- Province of British Columbia (School Tax)
- Regional District of Nanaimo
- Nanaimo Regional Hospital District
- Vancouver Island Regional Library
- BC Assessment Authority
- Municipal Finance Authority
Each authority independently sets its tax rates annually.
Next Steps
- Feb 11 – Council direction requested on the property tax increase for the 2026 budget year
- Feb 25 – Council deliberation on the proposed 2026–2030 Financial Plan Bylaw
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Mar 25 – Financial Plan Bylaw presented for third reading at a Special Council meeting
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Apr 1 – Final adoption at the Regular Council meeting.
More information:
For more information about the 2026-2030 Financial Plan and to review budget documents, please see links below:
Contact
Raj Hayre
Director of Finance
media@qualicumbeach.com
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