The Municipal District of Bighorn council is set to vote on its 2026 tax rates and penalty rules during its regular meeting on May 12, 2026. The decisions will finalize the municipal tax requirement at $10,518,296, an 11% increase from 2025.
The budget increase is driven in part by a $37,000 rise in the cost for provincial policing services, bringing that specific expense to $281,786.06 for the 2026-27 period. Additionally, the municipality must collect a significantly higher education requisition this year, which has climbed 21% to $5,027,086.
For residents with a property assessed at $1 million, the total tax bill—which includes municipal, education, and seniors housing costs—is expected to increase by approximately $22.03 per month, or $264.47 per year. If the council adopts the recommended tax rate bylaw (Option 1), municipal taxes alone for that same property would account for a monthly increase of $5.94.
During the meeting, council will consider first reading of a new business licence bylaw that proposes fees ranging from $25 for agricultural operations to $400 for industrial businesses, and schedule a public hearing. If approved, the new registry system would take effect on January 1, 2027. Furthermore, the council will discuss a proposed five-year recreation agreement with the Town of Canmore, which would see the municipality contribute $113,500 in 2027 based on $100 per capita for 1,135 Bow Valley residents, increasing annually with CPI through 2031.
Property owners are reminded that taxes are due by June 30, 2026. Any current year taxes remaining unpaid after the due date will incur a 9% penalty on July 1, 2026, with an additional 9% penalty applied to outstanding balances on January 1, 2027.
