City of Cranbrook administration will be bringing forward the proposed 2026 – 2030 Five Year Financial Plan Bylaw, resulting in a tax levy increase of 3.99% (plus one per cent for road improvements) in 2026.

Council requested that this bylaw come forward to a future meeting for consideration.

The average home value in Cranbrook for 2026 is $517,000. The 4.99% tax levy increase would result in an average municipal property tax increase of $150.53 for the year or $12.53 per month for those paying their taxes in monthly installments.

Inflation and rising costs continue to impact municipalities, just as they affect households in Cranbrook and across the country. For example, a cart of groceries that cost your family $300 in 2025 would cost more today in 2026 for the exact same items—just as it now costs the City more to provide the same services residents received in 2025.

In September 2025, the city completed the 2026 Citizen Survey which played an important role in informing Council before making decisions during budget deliberations. You can review the full report online here.

Some of the key findings of the survey include:

• High satisfaction with fire protection, parks and trails, playgrounds, street lighting, garbage and recycling collection, and the airport;
• Lower satisfaction with economic development, snow plowing, road maintenance, development services, and bylaw enforcement;
• 32% of respondents would support a tax increase in 2026 to maintain current service levels;
• 55% of respondents support additional funding for the Cranbrook Public Library, and 67% support continued funding for community groups and non-profit organizations.

“This budget increase is required to provide the same level of service that was provided last year and a one per cent increase in the budget to improve the roads,” said Mayor Wayne Price “Residents often relate municipal budget increases to CPI increases and do not realize our baskets of goods are at an industrial scale compared to a domestic scale.”

The budget process kicked off in June with departments updating their operating and capital budgets. Staff provided council with an overview of capital projects in October and in November, operating plans were presented and council authorized capital projects.

Further budget discussions were held in December and January.

“The resulting financial plan balances funding the complex operating and capital needs of the municipality with the understanding that everything cannot be achieved at once and that cost increases are challenging everyone on multiple fronts,” said Charlotte Osborne, Director of Finance.

“This budget maintains existing services and includes a small increase for the library to maintain operating hours, captures impacts of updated user fees, and shifts outdated funding to meet new needs created by changing community expectations.”

Administration will be bringing forward for three readings the proposed 2026 – 2030 Five Year Financial Plan bylaw, resulting in a proposed 2026 tax levy increase of 4.99% for Council consideration at an upcoming meeting.

e-KNOW file photo

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