The Town of Sidney council has officially approved its 2026-2030 financial plan, resulting in a 9.37 per cent general tax increase for local property owners this year. This decision follows a series of budget deliberations that saw council members work to reduce an initial proposal of 12.4 per cent.
For the owner of an average residential property in Sidney, the tax increase amounts to approximately $176 more for the year, or about $15 per month. In 2025, the average residential property paid $1,989 in municipal taxes, which will rise to $2,175 in 2026. The 2026 budget includes an operating budget of $32.8 million and a capital budget of $12.5 million.
This tax adjustment is the second consecutive increase above historical norms. The municipality is currently returning to full taxation levels following several years of pandemic-related financial adjustments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the town reduced tax revenues by a total of $576,000 while keeping service levels unchanged, and it has since depleted the $2.7 million in Canada-BC Safe Restart grant funding that previously helped moderate tax requirements.
According to the town, several factors contributed to the financial pressure, including protective services improvements for the fire department and the police, which represent a 5.4 per cent increase—accounting for more than half of this year’s total tax hike. Additionally, police dispatch costs represent a 2.6 per cent increase, reflecting what the town identifies as a provincial cost download. Rising construction costs have also impacted the budget, with construction inflation recently outpacing general inflation by nearly 100 per cent.
The budget was approved by Mayor Cliff McNeil-Smith and councillors Sara Duncan, Terri O’Keeffe, Steve Duck, Scott Garnett, Richard Novek, and Chad Rintoul. Residents can review the full details of the 2026-2030 Financial Plan on the town’s website.
