Affordability will be a priority as council drafts its 2026 City of Maple Ridge budget, said Mayor Dan Ruimy.
“As we begin building the 2026 budget, it’s essential that we keep affordability front and centre, especially given the tough economic conditions many of our residents and businesses are facing,” said Ruimy.
“Every year, we take a careful, community-focused approach to planning – ensuring that our investments continue to support what residents value: safe neighbourhoods, quality public spaces, reliable infrastructure and transportation, and a strong local economy,” the mayor added. “Opening up the budget process helps residents see how decisions are made, how services are funded, and how their feedback shapes our choices.”
The plan pegs the coming year’s operating budget at $212 million, and the five-year financial plan predicted a 4.95 per cent base tax increase for 2026.
Over the first three years of their four-year mandate, Ruimy’s council has seen property taxes rise 5.65 per cent in 2023, 6.5 per cent in 2024, and 4.9 per cent in 2025.
On Dec. 8, council will begin reviewing the 2026-2030 financial plan, including the proposed 2026 operating budget and property tax impacts.
Council is also scheduled to consider the adoption of the 2026 capital plan. All meetings are open to the public in person, and livestreamed at MapleRidge.ca/CouncilAgenda.
To improve transparency and public understanding of the process, the city has launched a new Budget Talks video series. The short videos explain how taxes and utilities are spent, the range of services the city provides, how the budget is built, about revenue sources, and more. All videos will be available on MapleRidge.ca/Budget and the city’s social media channels.
Council will debate the budget this month, and in early 2026 a draft budget will be presented for public feedback. The final tax rate bylaw and financial plan bylaw will be adopted in spring.