The outside of front door at Whitehorse City Hall. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Property taxes in Whitehorse could rise 4.6 per cent under the city’s proposed 2026 operating budget due to several fiscal challenges facing the municipality.
That would add about $136 a year to the average household, or roughly $11 a month.
Water and sewer rates would increase 8.02 per cent, adding about $23 per quarter.
Mayor Kirk Cameron introduced the $125-million budget Monday, saying it focuses on maintaining core services amid rising costs and shrinking federal funding.
“Ensuring taxpayer money is spent effectively and responsibly is central to our work as a council and a task that we take very seriously, much like our citizens. The city of Whitehorse finds itself in a rather challenging fiscal environment,” said Cameron. “$1 doesn’t go as far as it used to.”
Cameron said higher electricity costs and the loss of $2 million from the Yukon government’s cancelled carbon price rebate program are driving much of the increase. The city is also dealing with rapid population growth, with numbers rising more than 20 per cent between 2011 and 2021.
To keep the increase below five per cent, the budget includes cuts to community grants and staff training and reduces the senior utility rebate to $250 a year.
“I can assure you that council recognises the affordability challenges faced by citizens of white horse and is sensitive to the impacts of tax increases… It was important to keep the increase below 5 per cent but it was certainly not easy,” said Cameron.
Transit, recreation programs, snow clearing and FireSmart initiatives will continue, along with planning for a new fire hall in Whistle Bend.
Public input on the budget is open until March 9.
