Yesterday, Langley City Council received its first presentation on the proposed 2026 – 2030 Financial Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. The budget is divided into two major sections: ongoing operations and one-time capital projects. While a portion of the revenue the City collects is put into reserve accounts (savings accounts) for one-time capital projects, and Council can increase or decrease the amount that goes into these accounts, it is the ongoing operations that have the greatest impact on the amount of property tax people pay.
Every year, Langley City staff review the financial plan and each department’s budget line by line to ensure that each line is warranted or needs adjustments.
I would like to provide a high-level overview of the cost drivers for maintaining the current level of service.
Every year, new construction contributes to new revenue. For 2026, the estimated amount is $476,000. Because people can also appeal the value of their property, which happens annually, it reduces property taxes. The 2025 appeals are expected to result in a revenue reduction of approximately $260,050.
Interest and other revenue will contribute $705,560 in new revenue.
On the expense front, there are $2.5 million in cost increases to maintain the status quo; the largest drivers are RCMP costs and labour costs resulting from the collective agreements between the City and its workers. This total represents 80% of the increased expenses to maintain the status quo level of services.
The following table provides this high-level overview of all additional revenue and expenses for 2026.
| Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| New Rate Growth | -$476,000 |
| Prior Year Reduction | $260,050 |
| Interest Income | -$381,250 |
| Employee Wages and Benefit | $944,230 |
| RCMP Contract and Detachment | $1,072,340 |
| Fire Non-Labour Operations | $147,500 |
| Insurance Premiums | $87,440 |
| Mayor & Council Remuneration | $53,600 |
| Other Revenues and Fees | -$324,310 |
| Other Expenses | $220,740 |
| Total | $1,604,340 |
The brass tax is that maintaining the current level of services in the City will require a 3.58% property tax increase, resulting in a $49 annual increase for the average strata property or $116 for the average detached home.
Council also needs to consider the water, garbage, and solid waste fees for 2026. Council has the option to increase the level of service, such as hiring more police officers or firefighters, or decrease the level of service by cutting services.
I will post more about this in the future as we go through the budget process.
If you would like to follow along, please visit the Financial Plan section of Langley City’s website.
You can also save the date for November 26th for an informal, drop-in budget information session and December 1st for a formal opportunity to provide feedback to Council on the 2026 – 2030 Financial Plan. These typically occur in the evenings.
