Municipal Tax Ratio Policy
2026 Tax Policy Engagement Project: Public Online Survey Available October 2026
In October 2026, the City will invite residential and non-residential property owners, renters and other interested stakeholders to share their perspectives on the principles and factors City Council could consider when setting its future property tax policy. The public online survey will be open for feedback for three weeks in October. Paper copies of the survey will also be made available. More information will be shared with residents in October.
Learn more about the 2026 Tax Policy Engagement Project here
The City’s overall budget process, expenditures, service priorities and any individual property assessments are not part of this engagement.
The City’s annual budget determines how much it will need to raise from property owners to pay for civic services such as police, fire protection, road maintenance, transit, parks, recreation and snow and ice management.
The tax ratio policy determines how the tax revenue needed to cover those costs are split between residential and non-residential property owners.
City Council's April 2025 approval of a tax ratio of 1.71:1 means that for every $1.00 in property tax that a residential property owner pays, a non-residential property owner will pay $1.71 on an equivalent assessment.
Administrative Reports
- Administrative Report - 2017 Municipal Tax Ratio Policy
- Administrative Report - 2021 Municipal Tax Ratio Policy
- Appendix 1 - Peripheral Issues Relating to Local Tax Policy 2021
- Appendix 2 - Discussion Paper - Business Property Taxation by Cities, What We Know, What We Don't Know, & What We Should 2021
- Administrative Report: Municipal Tax Policy - Distributing the Non-Residential to Residential Municipal Property Tax Burden, 2025-2029
Related Documents /Financing Growth Study-Hemson Report