Budget Process

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) collects revenues from property taxes, fees and charges to provide programs and services, and manage infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer as well as facilities, parks and trails on behalf of the resort community.

The RMOW plans its annual and five-year budgets to manage day-to-day services, operations, projects, and infrastructure investments and to take into consideration the longer term strategy, challenges and vision for Whistler.​

Strong fiscal management remains a foundation of RMOW's budget process. The budget is developed to manage current demands but is also focused on the longer term strategy and vision for the community.

Annual planning process

Preparation of the budget is guided by the RMOW Corporate Plan and other municipal guiding documents; the leadership of the Audit and Finance Committee, staff and Council; direction provided throughout the year by committees of Council; feedback from the community through meetings, surveys, letters to Council and discussions; and thoughtful community planning and research. 

View 2021 Budget Materials

Thank you to everyone who attended the annual budget community meeting held (virtually this year) on November 16, 2020.

Meeting materials and Budget 2021 information are available here: 

• Budget Open house video presentation (November 16)
• Council meeting budget guidelines presentation video (December 15)
• Council meeting budget guidelines presentation slides (December 15)

The 2021 - 2025 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw was adopted at the January 5, 2021 regular council meeting:
2021-2025 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw

View 2021 draft budget materials

• 2021 budget information
• Departmental operating budget
• Full projects list
• Project budgets, 2021-2025

2021 Budget Timeline

View 2020 Amended Budget Materials

COVID-19 Financial Impact

Whistler Council adopted an updated Five-Year Financial Plan 2020 – 2024 (2020 budget) at its meeting May 5 following a thorough review of operations and projects against the backdrop of COVID-19’s short and longer term impacts to the community. The overall 2020 budget for the municipality was reduced from $97 million to $86 million. Council also adopted tax and fee bylaws, as well as changes to the penalty date for residential property taxes.
Amended 2020-2024 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw

Amended Budget 2020 information

• Amended departmental operating budgets (forthcoming)
• Amended project alignment to council strategic priorities
• Amended project budgets, 2020-2024

View Original 2020 Budget Materials

The 2020-2024 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw was adopted at the January 7, 2020 regular council meeting:
2020-2024 Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw

View the January 7, 2020 regular council meeting package.

Budget 2020 information

• Departmental operating budgets
• Project alignment to council strategic priorities
• Project budgets, 2020-2024

The budget for 2020 includes an operating budget of $90 million, as well as a $41 million budget for 164 projects.

The proposed increase to general municipal taxes is 2.8 per cent and utilities parcel tax and user fees is 2 per cent. For a Whistler residential property with an assessed value of $1.6 million, this would result in an estimated utility increase of about $24, and a property tax increase of about $72 (assuming assessment increase is in line with average).

The municipality hosted a 2020 budget community meeting on November 12, 2019. View materials from the meeting:

• Watch the full budget presentation here
• Download the presentation slides here
• Download the posters here

Resources

Financial Reports
Five-Year Financial Plan | Long-Term Financial Plan | Annual and Quarterly Reports

Corporate Plan
Corporate Plan (includes Annual Report and financial statements)
 

Property Tax Information
Property Tax Information (includes how to pay, Home Owner Grant information, and property tax resources such as FAQ)
 

Community Monitoring and Reporting
Community Life Surveys | Community Monitoring and Performance

Contact

Finance Department
604-935-8130
finance@whistler.ca

Submit budget questions or feedback*:

budget@whistler.ca

*By submitting correspondence regarding the budget to budget@whistler.ca or finance@whistler.ca you agree that the correspondence may appear on a Council Agenda in the “correspondence section" and in the permanent Council record. Council can choose to formally respond to your correspondence at the Council Meeting. Personal information received in your submission to this address is collected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only for the purpose of responding to your correspondence. Find out more about writing to Council.