Following detailed budget discussions on January 20, 21, and 27, Council has completed its 2026 budget review and is proposing a 4.1% property tax increase.
At the outset of deliberations, Creston faced municipal inflationary pressures equivalent to a 6.0% tax increase, before considering the impacts of ongoing provincial downloading of responsibilities onto local governments. Council’s objective throughout the process was clear: maintain service levels that residents rely on while minimizing the tax impact on households.
Balancing Costs and Community Priorities
“Council was very consciousness about how property tax increases impact all residents and businesses. We also had to ensure that core community services are protected. Balancing cost increases with the expectations of our residents is never simple, but we approached this budget with a commitment to doing both responsibly.” stated Mayor Arnold DeBoon to underscore Council’s approach throughout the budget sessions.
To reduce the potential tax impact, Council opted to use a portion of the municipal surplus, typically reserved for one‑time or capital projects. This strategic choice allowed Creston to stabilize the tax increase while maintaining essential operations. However, it also means that some new projects will be slowed or deferred in order to protect taxpayers during a period of rising costs. This essentially defers some of the tax increase to future years and allows Council time to explore other alternatives in delivery of core services.
Mayor DeBoon added “There is always a difficult balance between what the community expects and what rising costs allow. Our decisions reflect the voices of residents who told us they value strong service delivery and financial prudence.”
Citizen Satisfaction Survey – What Residents Said
Findings from the Town’s recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey played a role in Council’s decision‑making. Key themes included:
- High importance placed on core services, such as fire protection, road maintenance, water and sewer systems, and community safety.
- Strong satisfaction with day‑to‑day municipal service delivery, particularly in areas involving frontline staff and essential operations.
- Growing concern about affordability, with many residents expressing a desire for Council to limit tax increases where possible while still maintaining service standards.
- Support for responsible asset management, including aging infrastructure renewal, even when such work affects long‑term financial planning.
These insights helped guide Council in choosing to stabilize the 2026 tax increase while preserving the services most valued by residents.
Context Among BC Municipalities
Council also reviewed property tax trends across British Columbia. Small municipalities across B.C. are proposing some of the steepest 2026 property tax increases—often between 6–10%, with exceptional cases like Rossland’s 10% annual hikes. Mid‑sized communities such as Powell River, Castlegar, and Dawson Creek are similarly facing 6–8% increases driven by inflation, asset management gaps, loss of major taxpayers, and provincial mandates. Across both groups, local governments are struggling with costs that rise faster than CPI—particularly wages, construction, utilities, and mandated services—forcing councils to balance affordability with long‑term financial sustainability while funding essential infrastructure and service levels.
“Council is pleased to have worked collaboratively with staff to achieve a property tax increase that is lower than the provincial average, especially during these challenging times. Municipal governments face rising costs that don't match the consumer price index, since our expenses differ from those of individuals.” added the mayor.
Next Steps
The proposed 2026 budget will soon be posted on “Let’s Talk Creston” website at letstalk.creston.ca for public review with a deadline of February 20th for public comments.
Council will be hosting a public meeting to review the proposed 2026 municipal budget on March 3, 2026, with expectations to adopt the Five-Year Financial Plan later in March.