2026 Budget Highlights: Investing in What Matters to Maple Ridge
2026 Budget Highlights: Investing in What Matters to Maple Ridge
2026 Budget Highlights: Investing in What Matters to Maple Ridge
The City of Maple Ridge has released its 2026 Budget Highlights, outlining how this year’s financial plan supports the priorities residents identified in the Fall 2025 Community Survey. The focus is clear. Keep life affordable, strengthen core services, and continue building the infrastructure that supports a growing and thriving community.
Guided by Community Priorities
Residents shared what matters most, and the City has aligned its investments accordingly. The budget highlights several key areas of action, including:
- Keeping the community safe and prepared for emergencies
- Reducing traffic congestion through targeted road improvements
- Expanding recreation programs and spaces for swimming, fitness, and community activities
- Opening up industrial land to attract new businesses and balance the tax base
- Investing in utilities and core infrastructure
- Supporting local businesses by modernizing development processes
- Enhancing active transportation options for walking and cycling
- Strengthening community pride and quality of life
A Message from Mayor and Council
The 2026 budget focuses on affordability, core services, and getting infrastructure built. As the document states, the plan targets top concerns such as managing growth, reducing congestion, maintaining public safety, and managing costs responsibly. It also supports investments in roads, utilities, parks, facilities, and emergency services. “We’re supporting investments that deliver what matters most today and prepare Maple Ridge for tomorrow.”
Understanding the 2026 Draft Budget
For the average Maple Ridge home assessed at $1.04 million, the proposed increase is $181, or 4.1 percent. This includes:
- A 3.5 percent increase to property taxes
- A 4.5 percent increase to water utility rates
- A 6.1 percent increase to sewer utility rates
Where the Money Goes
The City’s operating budget of $180.8 million funds day to day services such as public safety, recreation, utilities, planning, and engineering. Capital investments focus on long term infrastructure, including:
- Water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure (40 percent)
- Public safety infrastructure and equipment (31 percent)
- Transportation improvements (10 percent)
- Recreation amenities (8 percent)
- City facilities and technology (6 percent)
- Parks and natural assets (5 percent)
Maple Ridge’s proposed 2026 property tax increase is below the average of similar municipalities. This reflects the City’s ongoing work to manage costs while still delivering essential services and infrastructure.
Understanding Your Tax Notice
Maple Ridge bills municipal taxes and utilities together to reduce administrative costs. A typical tax notice includes:
- Municipal taxes that fund City services
- City utility levies for water and sewer
- Collections for other agencies, including the Province of BC, Metro Vancouver, TransLink, BC Assessment, and the Municipal Finance Authority
Residents are invited to review the full budget information and share feedback at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Budget2026. Those who complete the feedback form by March 29 can enter to win a $150 gift card redeemable at more than 90 local businesses.
“Maple Ridge residents who complete the feedback form by March 29 can enter to win a $150 gift card.”
