In early 2026, the Business Council of
BC described the rapid rate of property tax inflation province wide as a
“Runaway Train”, citing a 94% increase over the past 15 years, compared with a
national average of 54%. No doubt, these concerns are well founded, but it is
nonetheless satisfying to note that this trend is not reflected in Abbotsford’s
property tax experience.
Reflecting on my own property tax
increase in Abbotsford over the same period (for a property I have occupied
since 1990), the increase has been 55%. This personal observation is
corroborated by Government of BC Local Government Statistics. Based on
that data, Abbotsford has been comparatively restrained in its property tax
increases over the past 15 years, relative to both the provincial average and
the averages of neighbouring municipalities—Chilliwack, Mission, and the City
and Township of Langley.
Two metrics are provided: “Municipal Taxes
Per Capita”, and “Total Taxes and Charges on a ‘Representative House’”.
(Schedules 707 & 704)
1/Municipal taxes per
capita
|
Municipality |
2010 |
2024 |
Change |
Avg annual growth |
|
Abbotsford |
761 |
1,088 |
+43.0% |
+2.59%/yr |
|
Chilliwack |
650.8 |
1,010 |
+55.2% |
+3.19%/yr |
|
Mission |
698.8 |
1,157 |
+65.6% |
+3.67%/yr |
|
Langley
(City) |
770.3 |
1,321 |
+71.5% |
+3.93%/yr |
|
Langley
(Township/District) |
821.3 |
1,289 |
+56.9% |
+3.27%/yr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BC
(weighted avg across municipalities) |
801.3 |
1,326.9 |
+65.6% |
+3.67%/yr |
2/Total residential
property taxes & charges on a ‘Representative House’
|
Municipality |
2010 |
2024 |
Change |
Avg annual growth |
|
Abbotsford |
3,743 |
5,497 |
+46.8% |
+2.78%/yr |
|
Chilliwack |
2,951 |
4,831 |
+63.7% |
+3.58%/yr |
|
Mission |
3,729 |
5,874 |
+57.5% |
+3.30%/yr |
|
Langley
(City) |
3,522 |
6,395 |
+81.6% |
+4.35%/yr |
|
Langley
(Township/District) |
3,592 |
6,363 |
+77.1% |
+4.17%/yr |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BC
benchmark (median municipality) |
2,762 |
4,673.5 |
+69.2% |
+3.82%/yr |
Abbotsford’s per-capita municipal tax
burden growth has been well below the BC-wide municipal average for the period,
2010 – 2024, and lower than that of each of the three adjacent comparator
municipalities listed here. On a homeowner-based measure, Abbotsford’s increase
is again lower than the BC median and lower than Mission, Chilliwack, and
Langley over the same period.
In a subsequent study (June 29, 2026)
from the Business Council of BC, a report was released showing that most
municipalities across the province increased operating spending at a pace that
exceeded what population growth and inflation alone would justify.
The one fact that cannot be lost in this discussion is that Abbotsford is the largest BC municipality in area. This has significant implications for investment in infrastructure like roads, water, and sewer, and operational costs related to police and fire protections services - much greater than most municipalities. Furthermore, our agricultural land (74% of our area) accounts for only 3% of our tax base.
Overall, 135 of B.C.'s 153
municipalities (88%) increased real operating spending faster than their
populations grew between 2010 and 2024, according to the report. Their findings
(below) indicate the average annual growth in real operating spending (adjusted
for inflation) and population for Abbotsford between 2010 and 2024 was within
our “means”.
Abbotsford Spending, 2010-2024:
Real Spending Population Difference
Annual Growth % Annual Growth %
1.2% 1.7% -0.6
Their analysis covers 153 of B.C.'s
161 municipalities. Seven were excluded due to incomplete data for the
2010-2024 period. Overspending will eventually “catch up”; it is not
sustainable. Abbotsford was one of 18 municipalities where spending is not a “Runaway Train”; where
sustainability guides fiscal policy.
This is the city that the incoming
Council will inherit. “Understand what came before – Decide carefully what
should come next.”
