2026–2030 Financial Plan
The City of Courtenay is committed to responsible financial planning and transparent budgeting.
Each year, the City must adopt a balanced five-year financial plan by May 15, as required under the Community Charter. This plan is updated annually to reflect changing priorities and needs.
Council began reviewing the proposed 2026–2030 Financial Plan at the Committee of the Whole meetings on November 26 and 27, 2025. Council then invited community feedback in January 2026 before adopting the plan on February 11, 2026.
View the Financial Plan Bylaw 3211
This page outlines community engagement results, Council direction and links to the financial plan documents.
2026 budget engagement
Community feedback is an important part of the financial planning process.
To help shape the 2026 budget, the City invited residents to use an online budget simulation tool called Balancing Act. The tool allowed users to adjust spending and property taxes while submitting a balanced budget.
The engagement ran from January 6 to January 27, 2026. For the first time, the exercise began with a budget shortfall. This required participants to make trade-offs to balance revenues and expenses.
What we heard
- The tool received 804 visits.
- Participants spent about 73 hours exploring budget options.
- Fifty-four people submitted a completed budget.
- Most participants were long-term residents and homeowners.
When participants reduced taxes, they most often cut funding for recreation, culture and community services, as well as development services. When taxes were increased, additional funding was most often directed toward public safety.
Participants said they value Courtenay’s natural setting, small-town feel, walkable downtown and sense of community. Common concerns included taxes, downtown safety, traffic and active transportation, and trust and communication with Council.
Council meetings
The following summaries outline Council direction at each meeting, along with related documents and videos.