The Town of Canmore Town Council will hold a special meeting on April 21, 2026, to approve the 2026 budget and tax rate for the downtown area. This meeting is a necessary step to meet provincial rules, which require the tax rate bylaw to be finalized by May 1.
The proposed budget for the Downtown Business Improvement Area includes $214,721 in tax revenue collected from local property owners. This figure represents a 20 per cent increase compared to the $178,938 base levy collected in 2025. The total revenue for the 2026 budget is set at $320,067.56, an amount that includes a town grant of $102,775.66 funded through parking revenue.
The budget and tax rate bylaw were submitted for consideration by BIA Executive Director Gradey McMahon, Board Chair Renee Meggs, and the town’s manager of finance, Chelsey Gibbons. The Downtown Business Improvement Area, established in 2005, has relied on this annual council approval process to operate for over two decades. Under provincial regulation, the town must formally pass the bylaw to ensure it applies to the current year.
During the special meeting, which begins at 3:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at the Civic Centre, council members will consider moving through all three required readings of Bylaw 2026-06. If passed, the bylaw will come into effect immediately. Property owners within the improvement area have been notified of the meeting and provided with information on their right to speak to the matter before the council.
The funds collected from property owners are used to support various local programs, including street enhancements, community events, marketing efforts, and other initiatives designed to improve the vibrancy and accessibility of the downtown core.
