The Town of Golden remains committed to responsible financial management and long term financial stability. On May 5, Council approved the 2026 Budget and 2026–2030 Financial Plan following public engagement and consideration of Town services, infrastructure needs, and service levels.
Driven by aging infrastructure, rising costs, and the need to maintain essential services, the 2026 Budget takes a proactive, long‑term approach to financial planning. It is designed to maintain the core services residents rely on every day while investing strategically to reduce future risks and avoid higher long‑term costs. The budget aligns with Council’s strategic priorities, including infrastructure renewal and delivering services that support Golden’s quality of life.
“As a Council, our responsibility is to make sure the services people depend on every day remain reliable,” said Mayor Ron Oszust. “This budget allows us to keep up with rising costs, invest in critical infrastructure, and plan responsibly for the future, while continuing to deliver the services that support Golden’s quality of life.”
The 2026 Budget addresses rising operating and infrastructure costs while allowing the Town to maintain service levels and invest in key initiatives.
Highlights from the 2026 Budget:
- Investing in core infrastructure: In the 2026-2030 financial plan, increases will support the renewal of aging core infrastructure now and in the future. Key projects for 2026 include construction of the Well 7 building and system tie-ins, continued Cast‑In‑Place Pipelining (CIPP) sewer renewals, the final year of systemwide sewer camera inspections, and ongoing annual road patching to extend the life of local roads. These investments support long‑term service reliability and reduce future financial risk.
- Enhancing community amenities: Recreation improvements planned for 2026 include completion of four pickleball courts and two tennis courts at Keith King Memorial Park, additional upgrades to the Mount 7 Rec Plex block, including a new washroom, skate zone modifications, and landscaping, as well as arena concession and lobby renovations.
- Planning for a growing future: Significant planning work will be completed in 2026, including finalizing the updated Development Cost Charges (DCC) Bylaw and completing the Town’s new Official Community Plan, which will guide long‑range growth and development.
- Budget increase: The 2026 budget includes a 10% revenue increase to support long‑term financial stability and address aging core infrastructure. This results in an estimated average residential property tax increase of 7% for 2026 (approximately $168 per year/$14 per month for an average household), ensuring the Town can continue delivering essential services while managing rising costs and reinvesting in critical infrastructure.
Council also adopted the 2026 Tax Rates Bylaw on May 5. Municipal tax rates determine how much each property class contributes, and the revenue collected supports Town operations and service delivery.
In addition to municipal taxes, the Town collects taxes on behalf of other agencies (e.g. School Tax, Police Tax, Hospital District, etc.). The combined increase from these non-municipal taxing authorities is approximately 3.36% for the average homeowner.
Of the total taxes collected, 62% will stay with the Town to fund municipal operations, unchanged from 2025, with the remainder remitted to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Province of BC (Police and School Tax), Municipal Finance Authority, BC Assessment Authority, and Kootenay East Regional Hospital District.
“This budget is about being proactive rather than reactive,” said Chief Administrative Officer Jeremy Denegar. “Renewing infrastructure in a planned, deliberate way allows us to manage costs more predictably and reduce future financial and service delivery risks.”
Public input played a critical role in shaping the 2026 Budget. Residents continued to emphasize the importance of core infrastructure, essential services and responsible spending.
For more information and details on the 2026 budget and 2026-2030 financial plan, visit golden.ca/budget. To learn more about your 2026 BC Assessment, visit bcassessment.ca