Maple Ridge, B.C., Feb. 24, 2026 – Maple Ridge residents and businesses are invited to comment on the City’s draft 2026 budget, which is focused on affordability and delivering essential services that meet the needs of a growing community.
At a special meeting on Feb. 17, Council directed staff to proceed with community engagement on the proposed 2026–2030 Financial Plan, and a proposed property tax increase of 3.5 per cent. For the average Maple Ridge home (per BC Assessment valued at $1.04 million), this represents an increase of about $101 for the year. The proposed 2026-2030 Financial Plan is based on a provisional estimated operating budget of $180.83 million.
Public engagement will run until March 29, with both online and in-person opportunities.
“We’re focused on delivering what our residents told us matter the most to them—safe neighbourhoods, less congestion, access to recreation, and a strong local economy—while keeping property taxes as low as possible,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “Council directed staff to put affordability front and centre and significantly reduce the previously projected 2026 tax increase by finding efficiencies and savings; while taking a responsible long-term focus so we maintain the core services our residents and businesses rely on every day. Now we’re asking the community to learn more about the budget and share their feedback.”
Focusing on Affordability
The proposed budget is affected by a number of external cost pressures including inflation, labour and contract increases, rising costs on fees collected on behalf of other levels of government, and provincial housing requirements. Revenue was also reduced due to lower-than-anticipated property value assessments published by BC Assessment.
To limit the tax increase to 3.5 per cent, one of the lowest in the region, City staff identified more than $4.6 million in additional savings by seeking efficiencies, closely reviewing programs, realigning funding and distributing costs over multiple years.
“As one of the fastest-growing communities in Metro Vancouver, Maple Ridge faces additional challenges ensuring services and infrastructure keep pace with our rapidly increasing population,” Ruimy says. “This means being strategic about setting priorities and allocating resources, as well as advocating for our fair share of senior government funding on behalf of the citizens of Maple Ridge.”
While the draft budget primarily maintains existing service levels, it includes about $700,000 in carefully prioritized investments to stabilize key service areas, manage risks, meet service demands, protect assets and avoid higher costs in the long term. These include:
- Increasing contracted security services at City facilities, in the downtown and other high-use areas.
- Sustaining sidewalks, curb and gutter maintenance and road line marking to support safety and increased demand.
- Critical administrative support for timely and transparent delivery of City communications and community engagement opportunities.
- Adding capacity through a Facilities Project Associate Manager to support infrastructure projects and asset management.
- Improving maintenance at key civic buildings with a Facilities Maintenance Technician.
- Meeting growing regulatory demands with a Health & Safety Advisor.
- Strengthening community resilience with an Emergency Preparedness Advisor.
The impact of the tax increase will vary for properties with assessments above or below the average. The property tax bill will also include previously approved water and sewer utilities, which will see rate increases of 4.5 per cent for water and 6.05 per cent for sewer. With tax and utilities combined, the total expected 2026 increase for an average home with water and sewer service is $181, or 4.1 per cent.
New this year, the City is mailing a 2026 Budget Highlights newsletter to every property in Maple Ridge, ensuring residents have clear, accessible information about where tax dollars go and how to participate in the budget conversation. This builds on earlier feedback from the Community Survey conducted in late 2025, where residents indicated their top priorities for the City are staying focused on core services, maintaining infrastructure to keep up with rapid growth, and taxpayer affordability.
Have Your Say for a Chance to Win
Information about the budget and engagement opportunities is available at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Budget2026. Maple Ridge residents who complete the survey by March 29 can enter a draw for a $150 gift card from the Downtown Business Improvement Association, valid at over 90 local businesses.
Opportunities include:
- Attending one of six pop-up sessions at various locations around the community, the first of which will be at the Maple Ridge Library – 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road – from 3:30 – 6 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 25 (see more dates and locations at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Budget2026.)
- Watching for the 2026 Budget Highlights in your mailbox
- Viewing the Budget Talks video series at MapleRidge.ca/Budget
- Completing the feedback form at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Budget2026
Investing in Infrastructure: 2026–2030 Capital Plan
In December, Council adopted a $431.98-million five-year Capital Plan that focuses on getting infrastructure built, supporting growth, and delivering the core services residents rely on while minimizing impacts on taxes. The plan advances nearly 140 projects in transportation, public safety, utilities, and community facilities. In 2026, $115.6 million is invested in projects that reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, renew aging infrastructure, and expand access to recreation.
2026 Budget Planning Timeline
- November 2025 – Community Survey
- December 2025 – Public information launch (Budget Talks, web updates)
- December 2025 and early 2026 – Council deliberations (open to the public)
- Feb. 24-March 29, 2026 – Draft budget public engagement
- April 2026 – Council Adoption of Financial Plan and Tax Rate Bylaws
Visit MapleRidge.ca/Budget and Engage.MapleRidge.ca/Budget2026 to learn more. For additional information, contact CK Lee, Manager of Financial Planning at Budget@MapleRidge.ca.
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Media Contact
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249 E media@MapleRidge.ca