The proposed 2026 budget includes a 3.183 per cent property tax increase and several utility and levy adjustments. (Photos/ City of North Battleford and The Business Improvement District of Downtown North Battleford)

By Kenneth Cheung

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

‘It’s a tight budget’: North Battleford’s 2026 property tax hike proposed at nearly 3.2 per cent

Nov 13, 2025 | 4:44 PM

North Battleford residents are being asked to shoulder a series of tax and utility increases next year as the city confronts rising capital costs and aging infrastructure that administration says can no longer be deferred.

At the first budget deliberation meeting Wednesday, administration presented a proposed 3.183 per cent property tax increase for 2026 — a figure they stressed is driven largely by capital needs, not day-to-day operating spending.

Finance director Margarita Pena said only a small portion of the proposed hike is tied to operating costs.

“Only 1.42 per cent for operations. We haven’t had that for a long time,” she said.

“We believe our budget is reasonable.”

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The remainder of the increase — 1 per cent for capital purchases under $100,000 and 0.763 per cent for large fleet equipment — would be directed toward long-term asset replacement under the city’s 10-year capital plan.

City manager Randy Patrick said administration wants taxpayers to understand why the breakdown matters.

“We want to show operations are not taking up all of this,” he said.

“What we’re saying is that what we really need is to purchase some capital, replace pipes, and replace the snowplow at the airport that is [really old].”

Patrick added that the organization continues to search for efficiencies.

“It’s a tight budget,” he said.

In a statement, the city said approximately 90 per cent of next year’s proposed capital budget falls under the strategic pillar of infrastructure renewal, reflecting mounting pressure to replace aging roads, facilities and underground pipes.

Alongside the property tax increase, administration is recommending a 10 per cent boost to the Recreation Capital Construction Fund (RCCF) levy for residential, condominium and multi-residential properties.

The RCCF, in place since 2012, currently funds InnovationPlex debt, but officials say additional revenue will be needed as council considers either rehabilitating the existing Access Communications Centre arena or building a new one.

Pena said the increase is being proposed to prepare for future borrowing.

“That will really just help out with financing costs in the long run,” she said.

“We’re just projecting a loan advancement in the coming years, and that is just going to help [avoid] any cash flow issues, not having to fund any payments, loan payments or interest payments from city reserves.”

Utility bills are also set to rise, with a recommended 5 per cent rate increase for water, 2.9 per cent for sewer, and 1.7 per cent for garbage and recycling — averaging out to a 3.46 per cent utility hike, or about $3.61 more per month for a typical home.

Pena said the additional utility revenue is for infrastructure, not operations.

“Basically, again, aging infrastructure,” she said. “Everything is going to fund capital infrastructure.”

Administration is further proposing a 5 per cent increase to the Underground Pipe and Asphalt Rehabilitation program (UPAR) levy, focused exclusively on roadway work such as paving and resurfacing next year.

Some small downtown pilot initiatives — such as street cleaning, lighting grants and policing-related measures — are also included in the proposed spending plan. Patrick said those efforts are experimental.

“We try something, see how it works. If it doesn’t work, we will change that,” he said.

Both officials emphasized the numbers remain preliminary until council makes its decisions later this month.

“Please remember, this is proposed… It is not the council’s budget,” Patrick said.

Public deliberations continue on Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, and the city expects to finalize and approve the budget next month.

To view the full proposed budget, click here.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com