Image: City of Abbotsford / Abbotsford City Hall

By Alyssa Conti

BUDGET 2026

Abbotsford city council delays 2026 budget deliberations to next year

Nov 23, 2025 | 10:12 AM

ABBOTSFORD — As councils across B.C. begin their budget deliberations for the next year, the City of Abbotsford is rescheduling its own meetings — into the next year.

In a community notice, the City says the meetings were initially scheduled next week, between December 2 and 3.

It has now been delayed for over two months, from 1 to 5 p.m. on February 10 and 11, at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium. The City will be voting on the final 2026 budget later that same month.

In a statement to Fraser Valley Today, the City says staff have to reconsider its overall financial plans for 2026 due to a number of economic pressures.

The primary reason is that the BC Ministry of Finance and BC Assessment advised municipalities of proposed changes to the 2026 assessment of Gathering and Transmission Pipelines, which will have a “substantial financial property tax impact” in Abbotsford.

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The expected value cut would create a $1.13 million shortfall, making up 0.56 per cent of the total municipal tax requisition, and the City would have to offset it by shifting the tax burden to other non-utility assessment classes.

This would result in increased tax pressure on residents and businesses.

“Abbotsford City Council, alongside other municipalities and regional districts, has reached out to the BC Ministry of Finance, urging them to direct BC Assessment to postpone or phase-in the implementation of these changes and defer them until a comprehensive, sector-wide review of all industries within the Utilities Tax Class is completed,” the statement continued.

In October, E-Comm 9-1-1 also advised municipal members that it will be revising its 2026 levies, which could also have a major impact on Abbotsford’s 2026 financial plan.

Neighbouring communities have been working on Budget 2026 over the past month, with Chilliwack holding a public information meeting on December 2 and Mission jumping ahead to its final budget discussion on December 15.

Residents are invited to attend next year’s meetings in person or watch the live stream at abbotsford.ca/watchcouncil.