Will Squamish property taxes go up in 2027?
Very likely, yes. District staff's draft 2027 budget needs 10.4% more property tax revenue than 2026. That works out to about $342 more for an average home, before any extra items council decides to add. The new council still has to approve the plan, and the final number is not set yet. [1] [2]
Checked November 9, 2026 against District of Squamish records. Numbers link to their sources.
What the draft 2027 budget says
Staff presented the General Fund operating budget to council on September 29, 2026. The base plan needs 10.4% more property tax revenue in 2027 than in 2026. Staff say that is about $342 more for the average home, measured against an average 2026 municipal tax of $3,294. [2]
That 10.4% does not include extra services that were still waiting on council approval. Staff priced those at another 1.7% (about $56 for an average home) for added service and up to 1.2% for one time projects. At the September 29 meeting, council kept most of the extra services but cut two items worth $123,000 and $58,000, and sent a $580,000 community safety package back for more work. No updated total has been published. [2] [5]
| Part of the 2027 increase | Share of tax increase | Average home |
|---|---|---|
| Costs already committed (wages, police, transit, debt, other) | 6.6% | $217 |
| Saving for future repairs and replacement (asset reserve) | 2.4% | $79 |
| Services council already approved, plus critical ones | 1.3% | $43 |
| Critical one time projects | 0.1% | $2 |
| Base total | 10.4% | $342 |
This is the increase in the total tax the District collects, not a promise about your own bill. Your bill depends on how your assessment changed compared with others in your neighbourhood and property class. [1] [2]
What is driving the increase
Staff list the main costs. Wages and benefits under existing union and staff contracts add 2.2%. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police contract adds 1.1%. Higher debt payments, mostly for the new Public Works Facility, add 1.8%. Transit adds 0.5%, and the Cheekye debris flow barrier reserves add 0.5%. [2]
Staff also kept setting aside $7.2 million, equal to the general tax paid by a single large business, for one time spending like capital projects instead of day to day operations. This follows the District's tax policy of not relying on one taxpayer for ongoing costs. [2]
- Wages and benefits: 2.2%
- Debt payments: 1.8%
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police: 1.1%
- Asset reserve savings: 2.4%
What last year's plan predicted
Squamish adopted its first ten year financial plan (2026 to 2035) on January 13, 2026. That plan predicted a 13.0% tax revenue increase for 2027 and 12.9% for 2028. The new draft is lower for 2027, but staff still forecast 12.7% for 2028 and 7.9% for 2029. [4] [6] [2]
| Year | Forecast in 2026 plan | Forecast in 2027 draft |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12.8% (adopted) | n/a |
| 2027 | 13.0% | 10.4% (base) |
| 2028 | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| 2029 | 8.5% | 7.9% |
| 2030 | 7.3% | 7.1% |
Staff say the 2028 jump comes from new police positions that were partly covered by a reserve fund until now, plus more borrowing for the Mamquam Bridge deck, the Xwu'nekw Park sea dike and Squamish River dike raising. [2]
Water, sewer and garbage fees for 2027
Utility fees are billed separately from property tax. Staff recommended a 1.8% rise for water and 8.8% for sewer, and proposed 10.3% for curbside garbage. [3]
On September 22, 2026, council approved water at 1.8% and sewer at 8.8%, and lowered the garbage increase to 8.3%. These rates still need to go into the fees bylaw before they take effect. [3] [7]
Key dates
Council held budget workshops on September 8, September 22, September 29 and October 6, 2026. The new council took office on November 3. The District says a workshop to introduce the plan to the new council and a public information night are coming, but the dates had not been posted as of November 9. [1]
The 2026 plan was adopted in January, so the final 2027 number may not come until the new council votes in the coming weeks. Tax rates themselves are set in the spring, after BC Assessment releases its revised roll. [4]
How to have your say
The District posts every budget report and its online budget book on Let's Talk Squamish, where you can answer its questions about what matters most to you. You can also email budgetfeedback@squamish.ca at any time. Feedback goes to the new council, and the District will publish a What We Heard report. [1] [3]
- Read and comment: letstalksquamish.ca/budget-2027
- Email: budgetfeedback@squamish.ca
- Attend the public information night (date to be announced)
- Watch council budget meetings online
Follow what council does next: 2027 budget and property tax increase, with every vote by member.
Sources
- Let's Talk Budget 2027, District of Squamish
- 2027 to 2036 Financial Plan: General Fund Operating, report to council, September 29 2026
- 2027 to 2036 Financial Plan: Utilities Fund Operating, report to council, September 22 2026
- 2026 to 2035 Ten Year Financial Plan Bylaw 3213, report to council, January 6 2026
- Council Watch (unofficial summary): Special Business Meeting, September 29 2026
- Squamish Reporter: Squamish approves 10 year financial plan, January 16 2026
- Council Watch (unofficial summary): 2027 utility rates, September 22 2026
More explained
- How much do the Squamish mayor and councillors get paid?
- Why did Squamish property taxes go up 12.8%?
- How much does Squamish depend on Woodfibre LNG's taxes?
- What is happening with Brennan Park Recreation Centre?
Get it by email, once a week
Every Friday morning: what council decided that week and what’s coming up. Plain words, nothing else. Unsubscribe any time.
Sent by Squamish Voters (Jeff Kirdeikis, Squamish, B.C.). We never share your address. See this week’s email.