Budget Survey Shows Residents Seeing More Value in City Services 

Residents who took part in this year’s budget survey see more value in City services than they did a year ago, and more are open to a property tax increase to maintain those services. At the same time, keeping tax increases low is still their top priority, and the cost of everyday essentials remains a real pressure for households. 

These are some of the key findings in the What We Heard Report for the 2027 Budget Survey presented to Council on October 20, 2026.

More voices than last year 

Participation grew by nearly 70% this year, with 1,107 people taking part between July 20 and August 20, compared with 656 last year. More people also shared written comments, with 556 participants leaving comments, up from 343. Several questions were repeated with the same wording as last year’s survey, so the report shows not only where participants stand today, but how their views have moved. 

Views on value have turned a corner 

Of all the questions asked in both years, views on the value of City services shifted the most. Last year, a majority of participants (51.7%) rated it as poor or very poor. This year, a majority (58.0%) rated it fair, good, or excellent. Good value ratings nearly doubled, and very poor ratings were nearly cut in half. Even so, four in 10 participants (39.4%) still rated the value as poor or very poor. 

More openness to maintaining services 

Close to one in three participants (31.5%) chose an option to increase property taxes, up from one in five last year. Most of that change came from people choosing to increase taxes, if required, to maintain services and manage inflation (29.3%, up from 18.2%). Fewer chose to decrease taxes (24.6%, down from 30.3%), while maintaining property taxes at the current level is still the most selected option at 38.5%. 

Affordability still leads 

Minimizing property tax increases remains the top priority for participants at 62.4%, though that is down from 70.3% last year. Keeping and attracting businesses and amenities saw the biggest jump of any priority, rising from 24.7% to 33.2%. When asked about their own finances, participants most often pointed to the cost of utilities (59.8%) and groceries (58.5%). Concern about transportation costs more than doubled, while concern about housing costs eased. 

How the results will be used 

Survey results are one of several inputs that help guide decisions on the 2027 budget, alongside analysis of the City’s finances, operational needs and service levels.