On March 24, 2026, City Council approved guidelines that will help shape development of Budget 2027. The guidelines direct Administration to prepare a budget that reflects affordability, responsible long-term financial stewardship, core infrastructure and lifecycle investment, and reserve sustainability.

Budget guidelines

Council’s approved guidelines for Budget 2027 include:

• Administration should prepare the 2027 budget with a focus on balanced tax decisions that reflect both affordability and responsible long-term financial stewardship.  
• Administration should prioritize core infrastructure funding and lifecycle investment in the 2027 budget, highlighting when risk tolerances have shifted.  
• Administration should avoid strategies that defer financial pressures into the future simply to minimize short-term rate increases.  
• Administration should ensure reserve sustainability and compliance with minimum thresholds remain a consideration in the 2027 budget and have a plan to meet in the near future. 
• Administration could present options that balance service levels, infrastructure investment, and affordability considerations. 

Understanding the budget

Creating a municipal budget means balancing the services our community relies on with the funding available to deliver them.

To help explain how The City’s budget works, you can explore:

• How your tax dollars are spent (based on the adopted 2026 budget)
• Where City revenue comes from

These resources help show how City revenues support services like emergency services, roads, parks, recreation, transit, and more.

Latest news

March 24, 2026: Council approves guidelines to help shape 2027 budget development