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The Town has released the 2026 Budget Overview and invited public input before February 11, 2026.
Key Highlights of the 2026-2030 Budget
The proposed budget is 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.
A presentation outlining the factors considered in the budget process, along with the Budget Overview, are available online 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:
- Scenario 1 - 8.1% - $198 annual increase ($17 per month)
- Scenario 2 - 7% - $170 annual increase ($14 per month))
- Scenario 3 - 6.5% - $158 annual increase ($13 per month)
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.
Next Steps
- February 11 - Council direction on the property tax increase
- February 25 – Council deliberation on the proposed Financial Plan Bylaw
- March 25 – Financial Plan Bylaw presented for third reading
- April 1 – Financial Plan Bylaw presented for final adoption
Visit qualicumbeach.com/financial-planning-2026 for more information on the 2026 financial process.
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