City Budgeting
Every year City of Castlegar Council and Staff work together to develop an Annual Budget and Five Year Financial Plan. Municipalities must adopt the Financial Plan before May 15, when the annual property tax bylaw must be adopted, in accordance with the Community Charter. The planning period is five years, covering the current year plus the next four years.
Financial Services
The draft 2026-2030 Financial Plan will be available for viewing on February 26, 2026.
Have Your Say!
Your feedback helps shape and inform the City’s annual budget. Residents are encouraged to share ideas, priorities, and suggestions related to the budget by emailing budget@castlegar.ca before 3 p.m. on December 12, 2025. Council will review all community input during the Regular Council Meeting on December 17, 2025 at 7 p.m.
2026 Budget Process – Key Dates
- Community Group Presentations
December 10, 2025 – 5 p.m.
Community groups will present annual updates and any funding requests that support Council’s strategic priorities. - Public Input Period
December 1 – 12, 2025
Residents can share ideas and priorities for the 2026 budget by emailing budget@castlegar.ca. - Council Considers Public Input
December 17, 2025 – 7 p.m.
Council reviews community feedback at the Regular Council Meeting. - Special Council Budget Meetings
March 3 & March 5, 2026 – 5 p.m.
Council deliberates the draft 2026–2030 Financial Plan.
Open to the public in person and on Zoom. - Public Budget Open House
March 19, 2026 – Check back for details
An opportunity for residents to learn more about the proposed budget and ask questions. - Financial Plan Bylaw (Draft) Presented – March 23, 2026 Check back for details
Following Council deliberations, the draft 2026–2030 Financial Plan Bylaw will be brought forward for consideration and adoption.
Setting Castlegar’s Collective Goals
Municipal services impact your everyday life. Each time you have your garbage and recycling picked up, drink clean water from the tap, borrow a book from the library, or have emergency services rush to your aid, you are using a City of Castlegar service.
That’s why the City’s budget is so important – it is about setting our collective goals and building a great place to live, work and play. The budget determines the level of service provided to Castlegar residents and guides decisions on what City infrastructure will be purchased, built and repaired.
The budget serves as an outline for how money that comes into the City should be spent to maintain and improve the City. The City is limited in the number of resources available and the budget helps determine which objectives have the highest priority and will have the greatest positive impact on the community.
General Fund, Utility, & Airport Budgets
The budget is divided into several sections and comes together to build the City’s overall Financial Plan.
The General Fund budget is organized by department, focusing on the ongoing operation of primary City services, such as fire, policing, parks, roads, garbage and recycling, and other infrastructure maintenance.
The Utility budgets comprise of water, sewer, and storm services. The primary funding source for the Utility budgets are user fees and levies which are billed quarterly.
The Airport budget provides detailed costs required to run and operate the West Kootenay Regional Airport (WKRA).
Budget Approval Process
Under the leadership and direction of Council and the City of Castlegar’s Strategic Plan, staff develop a 5 year operating and capital budget that is presented to Council in winter. Council and staff work together to establish priorities and funding opportunities, with the consideration of public input.
- Phase 1: Listen and Learn
- Phase 2: Emerging Directions
- Phase 3: Policy and Land Use Ideas
- Phase 4: Revising and Final Plan