A potential tax increase of less than 7 per cent for residential, commercial and light industrial properties is being considered for Whistler’s 2026 municipal budget.
Over the course of three Committee of the Whole meetings, Council received and ultimately brought staff’s proposed 8.6-per-cent property tax rate down to 6.7 per cent by finding small savings, adding revenue, and including a proportional shift from residential properties to those in Whistler’s main large industry class, recreation.
The proposed budget is thus a plan for the future that invests in reserves and shifts more taxation to industry in order to grow the tourism economy.
“As a community, we have a really significant amount of infrastructure that is going to need to be replaced in the coming 30 years,” said Mayor Jack Crompton. “I’m concerned how much of that is landing squarely on the shoulders of residential property taxpayers.”
“There is a responsibility to find ways to ensure that tourism pays its fair share and that tourism pays for tourism.”
Council has recommended an increase in the mill rate for recreational properties of 20 times the residential rate. In the budget proposed by staff, a multiplier of 10 times the residential tax rate was incorporated. The new rate will, if approved, mean recreational properties, like ski areas and golf courses, go from paying three per cent of all property taxes the municipality collects to five per cent.
Eleven other B.C. communities tax industry at a higher relative rate than Whistler’s proposal. The higher mill rate for the recreational tax class would result in an approximate $1.6 million reduction in tax revenue collected from residential and small business properties collectively.
Tax increases are proposed by municipal staff in a draft budget, which outlines the forecasted operational expenses needed to run departments and provides estimates of the funds required to complete new one-time projects in the coming year. Council then debate, ask questions and recommend changes.
Council has also recommended eliminating seasonal free weekend and holiday transit, in favour of applying the $98,000 towards discounted monthly passes for locals, and voted to increase the mill rate for Class 2 (Utilities) properties to the maximum amount allowed under legislation.
Further, staff have been asked to seek an increase in the hourly and daily rates in the Day Lots as a means of funding more of the annual transit system costs. This piece requires the partnership of Vail Resorts (Whistler Blackcomb), which shares responsibility for managing the parking lots.
Council’s proposals aim to ensure tourism contributes more equitably to Whistler’s future service and infrastructure needs. The adjustments make it possible to contribute an additional $750,000 to general reserves than was contemplated in the draft staff budget— to fund future infrastructure costs — and $250,000 for the employee housing reserve.
Whistler’s budget is framed around three big rocks or immovable new cost increases brought on by growth. As a growing community, we are transitioning to a higher payment tier under our federal RCMP contract, expanding firefighting service hours and growing the transit service to meet Greenhouse Gas emission targets and reduce traffic congestion.
On December 16, Council will provide staff with final guidelines to draft the five-year financial plan bylaw. Whistler writes this five-year plan every year.
At a 6.7 per cent tax increase, a Whistler Housing Authority property assessed at $500,000 would pay roughly $50 more in taxes in 2026 compared to 2025; a market single-family home assessed at $4 million would pay roughly $390 more; and a market condo assessed at $1 million would pay roughly $100 more.
View the full report here. To see all of Council’s revised budget proposals, watch a recording of the meeting here.
| Assessed value | Taxes due in 2025 | Taxes due in 2026 | YOY change (nearest $10) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WHA property | $500,000 | $754 | $803 | $50 |
| SFH | $4,000,000 | $6,033 | $6,428 | $390 |
| Market condo | $1,000,000 | $1,508 | $1,607 | $100 |