B.C. Municipal Spending Tool
Has your municipality's spending outpaced population growth?
On June 29, 2026, the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC) released a report showing that most municipalities across the province increased operating spending at a pace that exceeded what population growth and inflation alone would justify.
Overall, 135 of B.C.'s 153 municipalities (88%) increased real operating spending faster than their populations grew between 2010 and 2024.
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The table below compares real operating spending growth (adjusted for inflation) with population growth for every B.C. municipality between 2010 and 2024. Use the search box to find your municipality or sort the table to compare results across the province.
| Municipality | Real Spending Growth (%) |
Population Growth (%) |
Percentage Point Difference (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Peaks | 17.0% | 9.7% | 7.4% |
| Belcarra | 6.1% | 0.7% | 5.5% |
| Sicamous | 5.6% | 0.9% | 4.7% |
| Princeton | 5.2% | 0.8% | 4.4% |
| Northern Rockies | 2.3% | -2.0% | 4.3% |
| Zeballos | 3.9% | -0.2% | 4.1% |
| Silverton | 4.1% | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Stewart | 4.1% | 0.1% | 4.0% |
| Tofino | 6.6% | 2.7% | 4.0% |
| Granisle | 4.6% | 0.7% | 3.9% |
| Masset | 2.9% | -0.7% | 3.6% |
| Canal Flats | 4.7% | 1.1% | 3.6% |
| Hudson's Hope | 4.1% | 0.5% | 3.6% |
| Port Edward | 1.5% | -1.9% | 3.4% |
| New Denver | 3.5% | 0.2% | 3.4% |
| Burns Lake | 2.9% | -0.3% | 3.2% |
| Port McNeill | 2.8% | -0.4% | 3.2% |
| Lantzville | 4.1% | 0.9% | 3.2% |
| Gibsons | 4.1% | 1.0% | 3.1% |
| Merritt | 2.9% | -0.0% | 2.9% |
| Lillooet | 2.5% | -0.4% | 2.9% |
| Fraser Lake | 1.4% | -1.4% | 2.9% |
| Oliver | 3.5% | 0.6% | 2.8% |
| Tumbler Ridge | 2.9% | 0.0% | 2.8% |
| Fruitvale | 3.0% | 0.1% | 2.8% |
| Hope | 3.7% | 1.0% | 2.7% |
| Parksville | 4.1% | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Prince Rupert | 2.4% | 0.0% | 2.4% |
| Oak Bay | 2.5% | 0.1% | 2.4% |
| Pemberton | 5.2% | 2.9% | 2.3% |
| Nakusp | 2.8% | 0.6% | 2.2% |
| Saanich | 3.0% | 0.8% | 2.1% |
| Kaslo | 2.5% | 0.4% | 2.1% |
| Vanderhoof | 2.1% | 0.0% | 2.0% |
| West Kelowna | 3.8% | 1.8% | 2.0% |
| Comox | 3.1% | 1.1% | 2.0% |
| Midway | 2.1% | 0.2% | 1.9% |
| Port Alberni | 2.4% | 0.5% | 1.9% |
| Taylor | 1.6% | -0.3% | 1.9% |
| Coldstream | 2.6% | 0.7% | 1.9% |
| Osoyoos | 3.0% | 1.2% | 1.8% |
| Chilliwack | 3.7% | 2.0% | 1.8% |
| Ashcroft | 2.1% | 0.4% | 1.7% |
| Quesnel | 1.8% | 0.1% | 1.7% |
| Pitt Meadows | 2.9% | 1.2% | 1.7% |
| Metchosin | 2.3% | 0.6% | 1.7% |
| Smithers | 1.9% | 0.2% | 1.7% |
| Logan Lake | 2.4% | 0.8% | 1.6% |
| Chase | 1.8% | 0.2% | 1.6% |
| Tahsis | 2.8% | 1.2% | 1.6% |
| Creston | 2.4% | 0.8% | 1.6% |
| Warfield | 1.6% | 0.1% | 1.6% |
| Port Moody | 2.6% | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| Fort St. James | 0.6% | -0.9% | 1.5% |
| Castlegar | 2.6% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| Port Alice | 0.8% | -0.6% | 1.5% |
| Ladysmith | 2.8% | 1.4% | 1.4% |
| Houston | 1.1% | -0.2% | 1.4% |
| West Vancouver | 2.2% | 0.8% | 1.4% |
| Courtenay | 3.3% | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Terrace | 2.4% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Peachland | 2.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Burnaby | 3.2% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Mission | 3.0% | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| New Hazelton | 1.2% | -0.1% | 1.3% |
| White Rock | 3.1% | 1.7% | 1.3% |
| Anmore | 2.8% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Rossland | 2.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Squamish | 4.7% | 3.4% | 1.3% |
| McBride | 1.6% | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Port Hardy | 1.3% | 0.1% | 1.3% |
| Surrey | 4.0% | 2.8% | 1.2% |
| Duncan | 2.1% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| North Cowichan | 2.4% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| Grand Forks | 1.5% | 0.4% | 1.1% |
| Fort St. John | 2.7% | 1.6% | 1.1% |
| Valemount | 1.2% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| North Vancouver (D) | 2.1% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Colwood | 3.2% | 2.2% | 1.1% |
| Qualicum Beach | 1.8% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Cumberland | 3.8% | 2.8% | 1.1% |
| Lake Country | 4.0% | 3.0% | 1.0% |
| Telkwa | 2.1% | 1.1% | 1.0% |
| Langford | 5.9% | 4.9% | 1.0% |
| Lake Cowichan | 2.4% | 1.4% | 1.0% |
| Bowen Island | 3.0% | 2.0% | 1.0% |
| Salmo | 2.2% | 1.2% | 1.0% |
| Cranbrook | 1.9% | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| Armstrong | 2.0% | 1.1% | 0.9% |
| Port Clements | 0.0% | -0.9% | 0.9% |
| Vancouver | 2.2% | 1.4% | 0.9% |
| Clinton | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Revelstoke | 2.6% | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| Powell River | 1.6% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| Richmond | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Mackenzie | 0.7% | -0.1% | 0.8% |
| Sechelt | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.8% |
| Victoria | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Port Coquitlam | 2.2% | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| Esquimalt | 1.8% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| Kamloops | 2.3% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| Vernon | 2.4% | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| Campbell River | 2.0% | 1.3% | 0.7% |
| Chetwynd | 0.1% | -0.7% | 0.7% |
| Daajing Giids | 1.6% | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| New Westminster | 3.0% | 2.3% | 0.7% |
| Delta | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.7% |
| Pouce Coupe | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Coquitlam | 2.9% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| Summerland | 1.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Elkford | 1.7% | 1.0% | 0.7% |
| Nelson | 1.8% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Penticton | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Golden | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Cache Creek | 0.4% | -0.1% | 0.5% |
| View Royal | 2.6% | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| Maple Ridge | 2.8% | 2.3% | 0.5% |
| Gold River | 0.3% | -0.2% | 0.5% |
| Salmon Arm | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Harrison Hot Springs | 2.8% | 2.4% | 0.4% |
| North Vancouver (C) | 2.7% | 2.2% | 0.4% |
| Sooke | 3.3% | 2.9% | 0.4% |
| Sidney | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.3% |
| Montrose | 0.5% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Prince George | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Kent | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| Dawson Creek | 1.3% | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Nanaimo | 2.1% | 1.9% | 0.2% |
| Fernie | 3.0% | 2.7% | 0.2% |
| Langley (D) | 3.3% | 3.1% | 0.2% |
| Sayward | 0.1% | -0.0% | 0.2% |
| Ucluelet | 2.7% | 2.6% | 0.1% |
| Spallumcheen | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.1% |
| Invermere | 2.5% | 2.4% | 0.1% |
| Clearwater | 0.6% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| 100 Mile House | 0.4% | 0.4% | −0.0% |
| Enderby | 0.7% | 0.7% | −0.0% |
| North Saanich | 1.2% | 1.3% | −0.0% |
| Sparwood | 1.1% | 1.2% | −0.1% |
| Trail | 0.6% | 0.7% | −0.1% |
| Williams Lake | -0.1% | 0.2% | −0.3% |
| Langley (C) | 1.9% | 2.3% | −0.4% |
| Abbotsford | 1.2% | 1.7% | −0.6% |
| Keremeos | 1.6% | 2.2% | −0.6% |
| Alert Bay | 0.2% | 0.8% | −0.6% |
| Central Saanich | 0.2% | 0.9% | −0.7% |
| Kelowna | 1.6% | 2.3% | −0.8% |
| Highlands | 1.2% | 2.0% | −0.8% |
| Lumby | 0.2% | 1.8% | −1.6% |
| Radium Hot Springs | 2.4% | 4.2% | −1.7% |
| Kimberley | -0.3% | 1.9% | −2.2% |
| Whistler | 0.7% | 3.1% | −2.3% |
| Slocan | -1.1% | 3.5% | −4.5% |
Note: Our analysis covers 153 of B.C.'s 161 municipalities. Barriere, Greenwood, Hazelton, Kitimat, Lions Bay, the Shíshálh Nation Government District, and Wells were excluded due to missing or incomplete data for the 2010-2024 period. Lytton was excluded due to anomalous spending increases related to wildfire response and recovery efforts.