News Flash

COQUITLAM, B.C., December 3, 2025 – Coquitlam’s 2025 Budget reflects a balanced approach to managing growth, addressing community priorities and ensuring long-term sustainability, while accounting for immediate needs. 

With a total of $711 million, the budget prioritizes public safety, infrastructure renewal, and core municipal services, and incorporates measures to reduce financial pressures on residents. 

2025 Budget Highlights

• Property Tax Increase – 6.83% ($175 annually for the average household): supports public safety, core services, and includes a 1% allocation dedicated to infrastructure renewal.
• Utilities Increase - $126 annually: largely driven by regional infrastructure projects such as Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant, which accounts for 10% of the 16% increase to sewer and drainage rates.
• Strategic Investments: Funding for new RCMP officers, extreme weather response, and expanded no- and low-cost recreation programs.

Investing in Community Priorities

Coquitlam’s 2025 Budget demonstrates a commitment to maintaining and enhancing the services and amenities that residents value most. Public safety remains a priority of this plan, with funding for four new RCMP officers and a Community Safety Advisor, along with the full costs for 10 firefighters and nine RCMP officers approved in 2024.

Accessibility and affordability remain key priorities, with expanded no- and low-cost recreation programs designed to ensure more residents can benefit from these opportunities. Cultural contributions include increased funding for the Coquitlam Public Library, Evergreen Cultural Centre, Place des Arts, and other community organizations that enrich the community’s vibrancy and heritage, such as Coquitlam Search and Rescue, Share Holiday Hamper and Meals on Wheels.

To support the City’s growing population, the budget allocates $234 million for capital projects such as the Northeast Community Centre, Burke Mountain Athletic Park, and infrastructure upgrades to roads, water, and sewer systems. These projects reflect Coquitlam’s focus on both current needs and future sustainability, with investments in energy-efficient infrastructure and electric vehicles aligning with the City’s environmental sustainability goals. 

Addressing Pressures and Priorities

Coquitlam’s 2025 Budget balances the immediate needs of our community with a long-term vision that supports a safe, vibrant and sustainable community for generations to come. It reflects the realities of rising costs, legislative changes, regional infrastructure pressures and the demands of a growing population. 

Provincial mandates, such as the Housing Supply Act and the Homes for People plan, have introduced significant financial and operational challenges. Coquitlam’s approach includes reallocating resources, leveraging reserves like the Development Stabilization Reserve, and identifying efficiencies to reduce financial impacts to ratepayers without compromising service delivery.

Again this year, community feedback played a critical role, with over 500 residents participating in the budget survey. The majority supported maintaining current funding levels across all services including public safety, parks, and transportation. This feedback helped shape a budget that balances affordability with the need to invest in essential services and infrastructure.

For detailed information on the 2025-2029 Financial Plan, visit www.coquitlam.ca/FinancialPlan.

See also:   

• Introductory Remarks Delivered by Mayor Richard Stewart [link to pdf]
• Presentation of 2025 Budget [link to slides]

Media contact

Gorana Cabral
Director Finance
604-927-3070
financialplanning@coquitlam.ca 

We acknowledge with gratitude and respect that the name Coquitlam was derived from the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (HUN-kuh-MEE-num) word kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (kwee-KWET-lum) meaning “Red Fish Up the River”. The City is honoured to be located on the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm traditional and ancestral lands, including those parts that were historically shared with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (kat-zee), and other Coast Salish Peoples.

Backgrounder: Coquitlam’s 2025-2029 Financial Plan and 2025 Budget

Coquitlam’s 2025-2029 Financial Plan Bylaw outlines the City’s approach to delivering essential services and infrastructure while addressing financial pressures. With a $711 million budget, the 2025 plan focuses on community safety, affordability, climate resiliency and long-term sustainability.

Operating Budget

^*The Development Stabilization Reserve receives a portion of tax revenue growth not tied to new construction. As new infrastructure and amenities are added, these funds will be used to help offset the operating costs and reduce future tax impacts.

Utilities

^*2025 increase largely due to Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant project, which accounts for 10% of the total. To reduce the impact on Coquitlam ratepayers, Coquitlam used part of its Metro Vancouver Contingency Fund, designed to offset major regional cost increases, while keeping some reserves for future needs.

Quick Facts

• Over 60% of public survey respondents supported maintaining current funding levels for most City services. Parks, Recreation, Culture and Facilities, Roads and Transportation, and Police were identified as top priorities for increased funding.
• Total 2025 Budget: $711 million, an increase of $136 million from 2024.
  1. Operating Budget: $381 million for municipal services like parks, recreation, police, fire, and roads.
  2. Utilities Budget: $55 million for Sewer and Drainage and $41 million for Water.
  3. Capital Budget: $234 million for infrastructure and growth-related projects, including parks, recreation facilities, and transportation.
• Key budget drivers include:

• $3 million increase in RCMP contract (1.47% tax impact).
• New provincial mandates for emergency management, housing initiatives, and land-use planning.
• Additional funding for severe weather preparedness and response.
• Inflationary pressures (4.5%), including rising insurance premiums, collective agreements and other contractual obligations.
• Anticipated 2025 operating revenues: $7.7 million from property assessment growth and grants in lieu of taxes, reducing the overall additional tax amount to $13.5 million (6.83% tax impact).
• Non-tax funding: $2.6 million from reserves.

• Average residential property tax and utility increase: $301 per year ($25 per month), including:

• Property Tax: 6.83% increase ($175 per year, $15 per month).
• Utilities: $126 per year ($10 per month):
  • Water: 4% ($27 single-family, $16 multi-family).
  • Sewer and Drainage: 16% ($101), with 10% attributed to Metro Vancouver’s North Shore Wastewater Treatment Plant (mitigated from 20% through contingency planning).
  • Solid Waste: 1% ($4).
• One-third of property taxes collected by the City are remitted to external agencies, including the Province for education, TransLink for transit, and Metro Vancouver for regional utilities and planning.
• Five-Year Capital Plan: $900 million for community facilities and infrastructure. Recent provincial legislation has created financing uncertainty and may impact timing or scope.

Understanding Property Taxes and Utility Fees 

Annual property tax and utility fees provide essential funding for City services and infrastructure. Coquitlam, like all B.C. municipalities, collects these taxes and fees not only for municipal purposes but also on behalf of regional and provincial authorities, such as TransLink and Metro Vancouver. The amount collected each year is determined by the budget and is offset by other revenues, such as developer revenues, fees, service charges and grants. All of the funds collected are used to provide the services and infrastructure needed to support a growing community. Learn more at www.coquitlam.ca/PropertyTaxes.