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Options to reduce taxes in 2025 behind public survey
As preparations begin around the City of Cranbrook’s 2025 budget, mayor and council are reaching out to the public to take part in a survey to look at options to reduce taxes.
After the 2024 municipal tax increase of 8.32%, Cranbrook municipal taxes on an average home are slightly higher than our neighbors in Nelson and Invermere, but still less than Fernie or Kimberley.
Last year, in preparation for the 2024 budget, city council provided for the same services as the year before which required a tax increase of 8.32%. To maintain same level of services next year as we have in this year would require a tax increase of 8.59%. In planning for next year’s budget, council directed administration to look at what it will take to develop a city budget with a maximum of a five per cent tax increase for 2025. To hold the tax increase to five per cent or less will mean identifying $1.3 million in reduced expenses, increased revenues, or a combination of the two.
To consider options to reduce taxes to the target or below set by Council, the survey is intended to
determine your opinion on the options to cut service levels, cut services, raise fees, find new revenues beyond what has been done to date, or a combination. When setting the final budget for each upcoming budget year, council opens the budget process to public comments. This year is different, the city will begin sooner and engage the public on specific questions about the city services, fees, and taxes.
The city is conducting two types of surveys at the same time; a statistically valid survey and a public opinion survey. The statistically valid survey has been mailed out to sample 1600 City residents in a way that will provide a scientifically reliable snapshot of what residents collectively think. The public opinion survey is
designed to gather ideas and comments from everyone that chooses to participate, the city is requesting that residents that live within Cranbrook city limits complete a survey. Both surveys will be presented to mayor and council before the 2025 budget discussions.
While the statistically valid survey provides a solid foundation for understanding general sentiments, the public opinion survey adds depth by highlighting individual opinions and suggestions. Mayor and council will consider insights from both surveys during their discussions in the fall budget process.
The survey is available online through the city’s website and paper copies are available at City Hall. The survey closes on Friday, October 18.
“As a council, we are committed to transparency by being open and accountable to our residents, and by being responsive to community needs by providing greater opportunities for input – two key values in our Strategic Plan,” said Mayor Wayne Price. “This budget year is going to prove to be one of the most difficult this community has seen in a very long time and this survey and the results from it will help us ensure we are very clear on the needs of Cranbrook ahead of this fall’s budget talks.”
Cranbrook is busier than ever, and demands on city services are higher than ever, which makes finding savings difficult as demands are sharply increasing, not decreasing. Our region is also challenged with more climate change issues around flooding and fires, addressing social issues that have surfaced post-COVID-19, including previously unseen levels of homelessness and opioid use impacting city services, as Cranbrook is a regional hub for social services in the Kootenays.
In addition to the proposed changes presented to the public in the survey, city administration is reviewing all department expenses and services to reduce all costs without affecting services to residents in preparation for the 2025 budget year, and undertaken service fee reviews that have recently been approved by council to raise revenues. The city continues to streamline process for developers and pursue economic development opportunities to attract new businesses to generate more tax revenues.
Learn more about this important budget process, find links to the public survey and review important reports to understand the current services and budgets for the city.
e-KNOW file photo
City of Cranbrook
