Earlier this week, the City of Vancouver approved a budget that was heavily contested by opponents at Vancouver City Hall.
The budget includes a zero per cent property tax increase, increased funding for some services, and notable cutbacks to many others.
Hundreds of members of the public signed up to speak out against it, but City Council passed the $2.39-billion operating budget despite the outcry. Councillors Lucy Maloney, Sean Orr, Rebecca Bligh, and Pete Fry voted against the budget, which passed 7-4.
City of Vancouver
“The budget delivers a balanced plan with a 0% property tax increase while prioritizing frontline services such as public safety, road maintenance, arts and community grants, and library hours. Recreation costs at community centres — including admission, passes, programs and permits — will also stay the same in 2026 with no fee increases,” the City said in a release.
It added, “The approved budget includes $120 million in savings through efficiencies and new revenue opportunities and continues to invest in infrastructure renewal and long-term priorities that support a livable city.”
The budget reveals that a plan to relocate the Beach Avenue bike lane, which would have cost $4.5 million, has been dropped, for now.
Vancouver City Council had approved the zero per cent property tax increase in October.
Many spoke on the zero per cent motion at Vancouver City Hall when it was proposed, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), which was in favour, saying “72 per cent of Vancouver’s small businesses say taxes and regulatory fees are the main challenge to their business.”
When the zero per cent motion was proposed, residents expressed concerns on social media about the potential for services to be cut. At the time, the City addressed some of those concerns, suggesting that City staff would prepare a budget designed around protecting core services like libraries, arts and community grants, and police and fire services.
The approved budget shows that police funding has been increased by 10 per cent or $46.2 million, fire funding has been increased by six per cent, or $12.2 million, and libraries got an increase of three per cent, or $2.1 million.
Arts and community centres weren’t so lucky. Arts, culture and community services saw a cutback of 12 per cent or $6 million. Brittania Community Services Centre also saw a two per cent cutback. Civic theatres also saw a cutback, as did planning, urban design and sustainability.
City of Vancouver
“In 2026, the City will be advancing $698 million funding in new investments, with the corresponding 2026 Capital Expenditure Budget to be $894 million. Notable capital projects include the renewal and expansion of the PNE Amphitheatre, seismic upgrades to the Cambie Bridge, construction of the new Marpole Community Centre and ongoing programs such as sewer main renewal, fleet replacement and capital grants,” the City said in its release.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim called the budget “back to basics.”
“This budget focuses on public safety and affordability while prioritizing the City’s frontline services, including road and sidewalk maintenance, garbage pickup, parks and recreation, and infrastructure renewal,” Sim said in a post on X.
“It also freezes user fees for recreation facilities and patio permitting. This budget gets us back to basics, and Vancouver is proving that local governments can be disciplined and focused while delivering quality frontline services.”
Meanwhile, COPE Vancouver called it the “worst budget in Vancouver history.”
The 2026 mayoral election is less than a year away, and the approved budget will likely be a topic that will be discussed on the campaign trail.