Budget 2025-26
The City Manager’s Recommended two-year operating and capital budget for 2025-2026 was reviewed by Council and adopted December 2. The adopted budget will go into effect January 1, 2025.
Vancouver is a full-service city and is responsible for providing municipal services that support a safe, and vibrant community – including building and repairing roads, providing clean drinking water and reliable sewer systems, ensuring community safety through fire and police, maintaining parks, open space and recreational centers, and creating good jobs and livable neighborhoods through economic development and planning.
2025-26 Adopted Budget Ordinances
Ord M-4469 – 2025 Property Tax Levy
Ord M-4470 – 2025 Affordable Housing Property Tax Levy
Ord M-4471 – 2025 Ad Valorem Taxes
Ord M-4472 – Preservation of Levy Capacity 2025
Ord M-4475 – Updating Tax Administration Code
Ord M-4476 – B&O Tax for Bridge Shelter
Ord M-4477 – Utility Licenses and Taxes
Ord M-4478 – Admissions Tax
Ord M-4479 – Parking Tax
Ord M-4480 – Electronic Payment Assumption of Costs
Ord M-4481 – Culural Access Program
Ord M-4482 – Special License Fees
Ord M-4483 – Planning Fees
Ord M-4484 – Water Sewer Surface Water Rates
Ord M-4485 – Title 16 Fire Amendments (2024) Ordinance
Ord M-4486 – Title 17 Fire Amendments (2024) Ordinance
Ord M-4487 – 2025-26 Biennial Budget
Budget Dashboard
2025-26 Budget Framework: Policy Priorities
Three universal themes—Community Safety, Climate Action and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion—govern the development of the biennial budget. The process assigns funding based on the City’s core values, as well as the strategic outcomes, community indicators, and performance measures outlined in the Strategic Plan adopted by Council. The City’s core values are:
- Livability
- Equity and Inclusion
- Innovation
- Sustainability and Resiliency
- Trust and Relationships
How the 2025-2026 Budget was Put Together
Forecasting for the Future
The budget process started with an Expenditure and Revenue Forecast for the next six-years and with a review of the City’s Financial policies. The 2025-2030 Forecast indicated that the City will have one-time resources to spend on services and capital projects during the next biennium.
Developing a Recommended Budget
The City Manager developed a Recommended Budget by working with all City departments to identify future investments in services and programs that reflect City policy priorities while ensuring ongoing support of existing City services. The City Manager also gathered community input through several community touchpoints to inform his recommendations. Community input came from a variety of sources, such as direct engagement with community groups, a community survey, an on-line budget engagement and prioritization tool, as well as the assessment and analysis associated with the Stronger Vancouver initiative. Capital and program investments were also informed by Vancouver’s newly developed Equity Index as well as consultation with relevant boards and commissions.
Budget Schedule
The City’s draft budget will be reviewed by City Council in a series of public budget workshops and a public hearing. The final budget will be adopted on November 18, 2025.
- October 1 – City Manager’s Recommended Budget Published
- October 7 – City Manager Delivers Biennium Budget
- October 14 – Budget Workshop
- October 28 – Budget Workshop
- November 4 – Budget Workshop
- November 18 – First Reading of Budget Ordinances
- December 2 – Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Adoption Hearing of 2025-26 Biennium Budget
- January 1, 2025 – 2025-26 Operating and Capital Budget goes into effect