Sayward residents could be in for a hefty tax increase this year.
The Village of Sayward’s draft budget carries a proposed 42 per cent rise in its property tax rate for 2026.
The village said it has operated with expenditures exceeding recurring revenues for the last several years and current projections indicate it has no available unrestricted operating reserves to support general operations.
Village staff say the 2025 fiscal year included unbudgeted expenditures related to legal matters, staffing, and emergency infrastructure repairs while several planned projects were deferred or cancelled due to staff capacity constraints.
Staff had initially brought forward a draft budget with a 50 per cent increase but council was able to identify some areas where savings were found to cut the increase to 42 per cent – which would amount to about an extra 725 dollars a year for an average single family home.
A report from village staff projects smaller tax increases for the duration of its financial plan through 2030.
Projected municipal property tax adjustments are as follows: “a significant increase in 2026, followed by 14 per cent in 2027 and 6 per cent annually from 2028 through 2030,” said the report. “The 2026 increase corrects structural imbalance in the taxation-supported budget. The increases in subsequent years reflect stabilization of operations and gradual rebuilding of financial sustainability.”
The draft budget and financial plan was presented to council at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 17, it will be made available for public review and residents will be invited to provide written submissions or attend Council meetings prior to final adoption.
The next Village of Sayward council meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 24.
– Article contains files from Village of Sayward
