Vancouver city council has approved a zero per cent property tax increase for 2026. On Tuesday, Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC majority voted for the freeze, while opposition councillors voted against it, citing a lack of transparency. Following three years of tax increases, Sim called this a change in direction, adding it was about affordability for Vancouverites. “If we maintain the status quo or if we were on the path that our opposition would like us to be on, this place will be less affordable,” he said. “It will be less safe. There will be less futures for the people of Vancouver who want to live here. And, we’re not going to stand for it.” The decision came after council heard from hundreds of speakers, mostly in opposition of the budget. According to staff, at last year’s draft budget meeting, 10 people spoke. When asked what he thought about the turnout, Sim called it a “rigorous process.” “And yes, when people come to the chamber, we will listen to their comments, and wherever we feel that something, you know, makes a lot of sense we will incorporate it,” Sim said. ‘Major ramifications’ Green Coun. Pete Fry said the budget was marked with opacity, and was indicative of a culture of secrecy within the mayor’s office. “This was a 23-page budget light on details with major ramifications,” he said. “So, our responsibility as elected councilors who took an oath of office to be accountable for the decisions we make, is to analyze that budget. We weren’t given that opportunity.” At Tuesday’s meeting, ABC councillors tabled a number of successful amendments. One of which was to increase the park board’s budget by reallocating an additional $800,000 from within the city’s overall existing budget, “to hold community centre recreation admission and passes, lessons, programs and permits fees at a 0 per cent increase for 2026,” as per the amendment. Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung’s amendment sought to maintain existing patio permit fees, and cancel a proposed 10.5 per cent increase to these fees for sidewalk and curbside patios. Zero means zero In October, Sim tabled a successful motion called “Zero Means Zero,” to freeze property tax increase for 2026. At the time, Sim said the motion would preserve core services such as policing, libraries and community centres, but opposition councillors have criticized it for a lack of detail. Following the motion, city staff were tasked with cutting around $120 million in savings – for next year’s $2.39 operating budget. In June, city staff projected a property tax increase ranging from five to six per cent for 2026 to maintain service levels. The 23-page 2026 draft budget was published in November. According to the document, The Vancouver Police Department will gain a 10 per cent or $50 million funding boost, while Vancouver Fire Rescue Services are receiving a 6 per cent increase. Utility fees, including solid waste, water, and sewer, will increase by an average of 4.2 per cent to fund the replacement of aging infrastructure and address rising Metro Vancouver water and sewer levies. Other departments such as planning, urban design and sustainability will be reduced by 14 per cent while Arts and culture is facing a 12 per cent decrease. ‘Cuts are coming’ Independent Coun. Rebecca Bligh, who is running for mayor next year with Vote Vancouver, said city services will be impacted immediately. “City services will be impacted today because the understanding is those cuts are coming,” she said. “So, we’re already hearing certain departments are letting stakeholders know – that interact with city services – that they’re understaffed, they’re short-staffed, there’s work overload and there’s going to be delays. ”As part of those cost savings, CTV News learned 400 full-time positions are facing cuts to accommodate the tax freeze. When asked when these cuts will begin to occur, Bligh added she would hesitate to say, “but I think that we know that those decisions are being made in the next quarter.” At the end of Tuesday’s meeting, during a media scrum, Sim stated he plans on running again next year. “We are still committed to making the city more affordable going forward and this place to be safer, and that will take another term,” he said. “And so we’re in it. And, we’re committed to doing the hard work, the hard work that other administrations weren’t willing to do.”
