Kitimat Council has been deliberating on the municipal budget over the course of the past few months, and the most recent meeting, March 3, 2025, has moved the budget closer to completion.

We are happy to share highlights of where the budget currently stands. The budget remains preliminary at this point and will continue to be deliberated on by Council.

Budget increase

As it is currently presented, the municipal budget shows a 4.75% overall increase.

As we’ve shared on our Get Involved Kitimat budget page, when the budget increase is formalized a tax rate is then set for property owners in Kitimat. The tax rate is what is payable for each $1,000 of assessed value of your home or property.

Additionally, the District will be changing the water rate, subject to a bylaw approval, which is a standalone cost on property tax notices. The change in water rates would mean that as of July 1 it would rise the equivalent of $1.72 per month, and beginning in 2026 will rise an additional $1.71 per month to a total increase of $3.42 per month, or $205 per year total cost inclusive of the increase.

As a percent of the total collection of property taxes, residential accounts for approximately 14 per cent, commercial eight per cent, and heavy industry 76 per cent.

What are the expenses this year

The 2025 municipal budget currently anticipates a total 6.7 per cent increase in core operating expenses. This means everything including general government, engineering, protective services, leisure services and more. Basically, operating expenses are the cost of running the municipality day-in and day-out.

Council also receives annual requests for community grant funding. These grants support groups like Mount Elizabeth Theatre, KUTE, and Tamitik Status of Women, among others. It is also how the municipality contributes to the operations of facilities like the Kitimat Museum & Archives and Kitimat Public Library. All combined, this year’s accepted grant applications total $2,803,878.

Capital projects is the part of the budget which includes specific actions or improvements the District intends to undertake. For example, replacing vehicles used by Public Works, improvements to our sewer system, air circulation equipment for the Aquatic Centre, or new traffic control cameras. An ongoing major capital project is the upgrade to the community’s water treatment system.

In total, capital projects are currently projected at $13,254,151 for 2025.

At the March 3 meeting, Council approved items requiring an early approval. Early approval means certain projects can proceed quicker, important for projects that may require a quicker start or to anticipate things like ordering parts and equipment.

As currently presented the municipal budget estimates a total expenditure of $53,521,790.

What is next for the budget

Council will still discuss capital project items that were not included on the early approvals list.

As well, Council could still revisit anything on the budget, such as operational expenses, before the budget is adopted.

The budget will be considered adopted in the spring once the financial bylaws – five-year financial plan, property tax rate and flat tax – are approved. These will be approved by May 15, 2025.

Budget discussions take place at open Council meetings.

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To find budget-specific reports and documents, click here: Budget