FAQs

A Financial Plan is another name for the City’s budget. Each year, the City’s Financial Plan sets out how much revenue the City expects to collect and how those funds will be used to provide services and build and maintain infrastructure.  The City uses property taxes and other revenues to provide services such as policing, fire protection, parks and recreation, roads and transportation. The City also invests in capital projects that build, replace, and maintain community infrastructure such as roads, buildings, parks, and recreational and other facilities.

The City prepares a 10-year Financial Plan each year. This long-term plan helps the City address immediate needs while also planning for future service, infrastructure, and capital requirements.

Property taxes are the City's largest source of revenue to provide municipal services. Approximately 62% of property taxes stays with the City of Chilliwack. The remaining amount is collected on behalf of other government organizations, such as the Province and regional bodies (see property tax section for more information).

Here is how the City's portion of property taxes is currently allocated:

• Police: 38%
• Parks, Recreation, and Culture: 20%
• Transportation and Public Works: 15%
• Fire Protection: 11%
• General Government and Civic Facilities: 9%
• Fiscal Services and Capital Program Contribution: 4%
• Other Protective Services (Bylaw Enforcement, Building Regulation and Inspection, Emergency Preparedness Planning): 2%
• Planning and Development: 1%

The City prepares a rolling, 10-year Financial Plan every year.

Each year, City staff develop the budget based on direction from Council, community input, and the City’s long-term plan. Staff review the City’s current services and identify service needs, gaps, and pressures. They also review the condition of existing infrastructure to make sure it is properly maintained and plan for future projects, improvements, and amenities. Council then considers the information provided by staff and community feedback to determine which services, projects, and investments should be prioritized.

You can share your ideas in a few ways:

• Complete the survey mailed out with property tax notices in May each year
• Take our online survey between October 20 and November 8, 2026
• Participate in the Public Information Meeting when the draft budget comes to a Council meeting (date TBC)
• Contact Mayor and Council directly via email at council@chilliwack.com
• Share these opportunities with others in the community

In addition to the budget surveys, City Council receives ongoing feedback from the community throughout the year. The information received helps Council make careful and thorough budgetary decisions for the annual Financial Plan.

No. The City receives 62% of the property taxes collected. The remaining 38% is collected and remitted to the following provincial and regional authorities:

• Province of BC (school taxes)
• Fraser Valley Regional District
• Fraser Valley Regional Hospital District
• BC Assessment
• Municipal Finance Authority

BC Assessment determines the assessment value of property for tax purposes. BC Assessment is a provincial organization that operates independently from municipalities. The City does not determine property assessed values. Instead, we use total assessed values of local properties to determine the tax rates needed to collect the revenue required to provide municipal services.  The tax rates are then applied to assessed values to calculate each applicable property tax levy. 

Watch this video from BC Assessment to learn more. 

An increase in assessed values does not automatically increase the amount of property taxes the City collects. Comparatively, a change in your property’s assessed value does not automatically create a percentage change to your property taxes. This is dependent on how your property assessment changes compared to the overall average change in properties within the city.  

Our budget planning process is underway. No decisions have been made about tax increases that may be needed to balance the budget. We are currently engaging the community (you!) to gather feedback on your priorities. 

After community engagement, staff will prepare a draft budget for Council’s review with the engagement results. A public information meeting on the draft budget will take place in January 2027 (target timeframe), providing another opportunity for community members to provide feedback.