Preview Kelowna’s 2026 Budget before Council deliberates next week

November 26, 2025

On Budget Day, December 4, Kelowna City Council will deliberate the 2026 Budget shaping the city’s services and investments in the year ahead. Residents can now preview the draft 2026 Budget online at kelowna.ca/budget, a full week ahead of Budget Day.

This is the final budget before Kelowna’s next municipal election in October 2026. Instead of cutting funding and slowing progress on priorities like public safety and traffic congestion, Council is continuing to steadily invest in the services, infrastructure, and projects that matter most—while maintaining one of the lowest tax increases in the province.

“This budget is about stability and progress,” said Doug Gilchrist, City Manager. “It reflects Council’s commitment to delivering on the priorities that matter most to residents, such as community safety, housing, transportation, sustainability, and economic growth, while at the same time keeping taxes low and predictable. As the last budget considered during this term of Council, it sets the stage for Kelowna’s future and ensures we deliver on Council’s 2023-2026 commitments.”

Totalling $1.051 billion in spending, the 2026 budget prioritizes funding in six priorities and 25 actions in Council’s Priority Action Plan, available at kelowna.ca/councilpriorities. The plan charts specific actions to tackle the most pressing challenges in our community, from Crime & Safety and Transportation to Homelessness, Affordable Housing, Agriculture & Environment, and the Economy.

Highlights of the draft 2026 budget:

Stable tax demand increase below 5%: the proposed 4.47% increase means an extra $116 per year for the average homeowner.
Emphasis on alternative revenue sources: more than 75% of City revenue comes from user fees, reserves, and other sources, not property taxes.
Big investments in infrastructure: delivery of roads, parks, and facilities is accelerated to support growth and maintain essential services.
External cost pressures are under control: higher RCMP and provincial transit costs are absorbed without significant tax impacts.
Focus on the customer experience: the City is investing in cybersecurity and digital tools to improve services for all citizens.

The City’s service-based budget, first adopted in 2024, ties funding to services and services to performance, making it easy to see where tax dollars go, what they deliver, and how they support Council Priorities and the long-term goals of the community.

This approach has won the City its most recent Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association, with ‘outstanding’ ratings in 19 of 25 categories and top marks for long-range financial planning and document clarity. Transparency and accountability remain central to the City’s budget process.

To learn more about the 2026 Budget, visit kelowna.ca/budget.