This year, Council will consider each budget separately, providing dedicated time to review information, ask questions and consider options before making decisions.

Budget timeline 

Utilities Budget: Supports water, wastewater, electricity and waste management services. 

• September 15, 2026 Budget released to Council and the public
• September 29, 2026 Council debate and consideration 

Capital Budget: Funds major infrastructure, facility and equipment investments. 

• September 29, 2026 Budget released to Council and the public 
• October 13, 2026 Council debate and consideration 

Operating Budget: Funds the day-to-day delivery of City programs and services. 

• November 10, 2026 Budget released to Council and the public 
• November 23-27, 2026 Council debate and consideration 

The budget process helps determine how resources are allocated to deliver programs, services and infrastructure that support our community. Throughout the fall, budget recommendations will be presented to Council for review and public debate before final decisions are made.

Why is the budget process different this year? 

For Budget 2027, Council will consider the Utility, Capital and Operating Budgets separately.

While each budget serves a different purpose, they are interconnected. Separate deliberations provide Council additional time to review information and consider the unique opportunities and challenges associated with each budget.

Budget guidelines

Budget 2027 is guided by Council's Financial Roadmap and Budget Guidelines, which focus on: 

• Building Capacity 
• Protecting Sustainability 
• Delivering Value 

How budget decisions are made 

Administration prepares budget recommendations for Council's consideration. 

Council reviews budget proposals, debates options during public meetings and makes the final decisions regarding service levels, investments and funding priorities. 

Property tax impacts for 2027 will not be known until Council reviews and deliberates on budget recommendations later this fall. 

All Council budget discussions are open to the public.

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

September 1, 2026: Council approves MCAF changes to support future infrastructure investment
March 24, 2026: Council approves guidelines to shape 2027 budget development