We're seeking your input as we plan our 2026 budget! The City’s annual budget is part of a five-year financial plan that sets out the planned services and initiatives for the next five years, and how the City will pay for them. The 2026 budget for Port Coquitlam will once again shield taxpayers from rising costs while continuing to provide essential civic services.
For 2026, the City is proposing a $129.4-million draft operating budget that includes a 1.95% property tax increase for the average home, one of the lowest proposed increases in Metro Vancouver, while continuing to deliver essential civic services despite rising costs and financial pressures beyond the City’s control. Approximately 73% of the proposed increase is driven by mandated RCMP and labour agreement costs, with the remainder reflecting inflation, higher service-provider fees, and long-term infrastructure funding.
Feedback from this survey helps inform the final budget and guides City decision-making throughout the year. Port Coquitlam residents who complete the survey may also enter a draw to win a $150 gift card to a Port Coquitlam business of their choice (one entry per household).
Your City, Your Say
Share your input now to help shape Port Coquitlam’s 2026 budget.
More About The 2026 Budget
I often find myself reflecting on just how proud I am of Port Coquitlam, and the people who call it home. This is a special community. One where neighbours look out for one another, where families put down roots, and where the spirit of our hometown hero, Terry Fox, is woven into who we are.
Council’s focus has been simple and consistent: protect what makes Port Coquitlam unique, and strengthen the sense of community that sets us apart.
In a time marked by uncertainty, PoCo is focused on what matters most — affordability, safety, and quality of life for our residents. That means keeping taxes and utility fees as low as possible, investing in core infrastructure, building great parks and public spaces, and making sure kids can play and families can get ahead.
For our 2026 budget, we’ve left no stone unturned to continue that leadership — and the result is the lowest average property taxes and utility fees out of the 21 municipalities in the region.
We want to hear what you have to say about our efforts. Learn more about the 2026 budget in this mailout and online, and then submit your printed or online survey by Feb. 8. Residents will be entered to win a $150 gift card for a local licensed business of their choice, and all feedback received will help inform this budget and other important decisions year-round.
City Council 2022-2026
Back row, left to right: Cllr. Glenn Pollock, Cllr. Darrell Penner, Cllr. Dean Washington. Front row, left to right: Cllr. Paige Petriw, Mayor Brad West, Cllr. Steve Darling, Cllr. Nancy McCurrach.
Costs Beyond the City’s Control
Port Coquitlam’s $129.4-million draft 2026 budget once again strives to shield taxpayers from rising costs – both those within the City’s control and beyond it – while continuing to provide essential civic services.
About three-quarters of this year’s proposed increase relates to mandated costs such as the federally-negotiated RCMP contract and labour contracts. Likewise, Metro Vancouver utility charges will make up the majority of the 2026 utility bill increases.
More details about costs faced by the City:
· Increased costs related to RCMP services.
· Metro Vancouver cost escalation for the purchase of water and disposal of liquid waste.
· Increased staffing costs for CUPE and IAFF based on current labour contracts.
· Inflationary cost pressures to various contracted services, software, materials and supplies.
· Costs related to continuing responsibilities from provincial legislation, including housing.
· Continuing need to support long-term infrastructure replacement.
Council Priorities
The City’s draft budget and service delivery for 2026 are guided by the 2023-2026 Council priorities along with community feedback received throughout the year through the annual budget survey and other public consultation.
Overall, the draft budget reflects the City’s ongoing focus on getting the basics right – planning and providing core municipal services (such as roads, utilities and other infrastructure, safety and recreation) that matter to residents and businesses.
Faced with an uncertain economy and various rising costs beyond the City’s control, Port Coquitlam has focused on maintaining existing service levels and taxpayer affordability in 2026.
Tactics to reduce the tax impact for 2026 included:
· Department efficiencies through line-by-line review
· Deferral of non-critical items
· Selective use of reserves and surplus accounts
· Leveraging of provincial and federal grant funding
· Tax revenue from new development (growth)
As a result, Port Coquitlam’s proposed tax increase for 2026 is among the lowest in Metro Vancouver, based on reported information. Over the past five years, the City’s tax and utility increases have been significantly less than the regional average.
See the How We Compare section below.
Municipal property taxes and levies for the average Port Coquitlam home (assessed at $1,126,339) are proposed to increase in 2026 by $45.34 (1.95%) – one of the lowest proposed increases in the region. A similar percentage increase is proposed for business taxes.
· The water levy increase of 6.53% ($34.39) in 2026 includes City savings of 0.99%, which partly offset the Metro Vancouver increase of 7.52%.
· The sewer levy increase of 8.97% ($46.49) includes 2.52% from the City and 6.45 per cent from Metro Vancouver.
· The solid waste levy for homes receiving City waste services has risen 2.59%, or $8.40, more than half of which is due to increased costs for external service providers.
Please note: These figures are based on last year’s property assessment values and do not include the regional and provincial taxes that also appear on the annual property tax bill and are beyond the City’s control. See below about the potential impact of a property’s assessed value.
Prepayment Program - Pay Monthly!
Sign up for the City’s Prepayment Plan to pay next year’s tax and utility bills in easy monthly instalments.
A property’s assessed value determines its share of taxes. The assessments provided by BC Assessment each January indicate how much Port Coquitlam property assessments increased or decreased from the prior year.
Properties whose value has increased or decreased more or less than other typical properties of the same type will experience a tax rate that differs from the average. For more details, see the assessment mailed to you the week of January 15.
This is how your annual City property taxes and levies are applied to a wide variety of important services and programs.
