[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":391},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-list":3,"article-\u002Fnews\u002Fcoquitlam-2027-budget-survey-november-2026":55,"article-people-\u002Fnews\u002Fcoquitlam-2027-budget-survey-november-2026":318},[4,20,32,42],{"path":5,"title":6,"description":7,"date":8,"publishedAt":9,"author":10,"category":11,"tags":12,"image":16,"imageAlt":17,"imageCredit":14,"updated":18,"linkedinPostUrl":18,"pinned":19},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcoquitlam-2027-budget-survey-november-2026","Coquitlam asks residents how to balance its 2027 budget","The City of Coquitlam has opened an online survey until November 22 asking residents to weigh in on how to balance rising costs against service levels in the 2027 budget.","2026-11-04","2026-11-04T07:28:00-07:00","voche.me editors","Long read",[13,14,15],"budget","City of Coquitlam","Coquitlam City Council","https:\u002F\u002Fcoquitlam.ca\u002FImageRepository\u002FDocument?documentID=20812","Coquitlam City Hall",null,false,{"path":21,"title":22,"description":23,"date":8,"publishedAt":24,"author":10,"category":25,"tags":26,"image":29,"imageAlt":30,"imageCredit":31,"updated":18,"linkedinPostUrl":18,"pinned":19},"\u002Fnews\u002Ffraser-river-literary-festival-coquitlam-november-2026","Fraser River Literary Festival brings 32 authors to Coquitlam and New Westminster through November 8","Coquitlam Public Library and New Westminster Public Library have launched the first Fraser River Literary Festival, running November 1 to 8 with 24 events, 32 local authors, and two gala evenings. Most events are free.","2026-11-04T07:56:00-07:00","Community",[27,14,28],"community","library","\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fbc-coquitlam-2026\u002Fai\u002Ffraser-river-literary-festival-coquitlam-november-2026.webp","Illustration of a book display table in a sunny public library","Illustration made with AI for voche.me",{"path":33,"title":34,"description":35,"date":8,"publishedAt":36,"author":10,"category":25,"tags":37,"image":40,"imageAlt":41,"imageCredit":31,"updated":18,"linkedinPostUrl":18,"pinned":19},"\u002Fnews\u002Ftri-cities-overnight-shelter-coquitlam-november-2026","Overnight shelter opens in Coquitlam with 20 beds and a hot meal","An overnight shelter with 20 beds has opened at the former Riverview Hospital site in Coquitlam, operated by Progressive Housing Society and running nightly from 8 pm to 7 am through March 31.","2026-11-04T07:35:00-07:00",[38,14,39],"housing","homelessness","\u002Fimages\u002Fnews\u002Fbc-coquitlam-2026\u002Fai\u002Ftri-cities-overnight-shelter-coquitlam-november-2026.webp","Illustration of an overnight shelter with cots and a serving table",{"path":43,"title":44,"description":45,"date":46,"publishedAt":47,"author":10,"category":48,"tags":49,"image":52,"imageAlt":53,"imageCredit":54,"updated":18,"linkedinPostUrl":18,"pinned":19},"\u002Fnews\u002Frichard-stewart-farewell-coquitlam-council-2026-10-29","Outgoing Mayor Richard Stewart hands the gavel to Craig Hodge at Coquitlam's final council meeting","Stewart wrapped up 18 years in office at the last meeting of the term, warning his successors against zero-percent tax freezes and calling mental health a priority for the new council.","2026-10-29","2026-10-31T09:29:00-07:00","Election news",[50,15,51],"Mayor","transition","https:\u002F\u002Fd30791g68t1h2.cloudfront.net\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F10\u002F29195514\u002F0utgoing.jpg","Outgoing Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart at his final council meeting","Tri-Cities Dispatch",{"id":56,"title":6,"aiMetadata":57,"author":10,"body":71,"candidates":253,"category":11,"date":8,"description":7,"extension":263,"faq":264,"image":16,"imageAlt":17,"imageCheckedAt":289,"imageCredit":14,"imageScene":18,"linkedin":290,"linkedinPostUrl":18,"meta":297,"metaDescription":299,"navigation":300,"path":5,"pinned":19,"primarySourceUrl":301,"publishedAt":9,"seo":302,"seoTitle":18,"sourceId":303,"sourceIsPaywalled":19,"sources":304,"stem":313,"storyType":314,"tags":315,"topicKey":316,"updated":18,"__hash__":317},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fcoquitlam-2027-budget-survey-november-2026.md",{"summary":58,"keyTopics":59,"semanticKeywords":65},"Coquitlam has opened a public survey until November 22 for its 2027 budget, asking residents to weigh costs against services as the City faces rising labour, materials and insurance costs and population growth demands.",[60,61,62,63,64],"Coquitlam 2027 budget","budget survey","property taxes","City services","capital projects",[66,67,68,69,70],"Coquitlam budget consultation","municipal budget survey","LetsTalkCoquitlam","Craig Hodge mayor","Coquitlam city council 2026",{"type":72,"value":73,"toc":243},"minimark",[74,86,94,99,102,105,108,115,119,122,125,128,131,134,138,141,179,182,185,189,198,201,209,213,216,219,222,226,233,236],[75,76,77,78,85],"p",{},"Coquitlam's new City Council is building its first budget, and the City is asking residents to help set its direction. An online survey opened November 2, 2026 and closes November 22 at ",[79,80,84],"a",{"href":81,"rel":82},"https:\u002F\u002Fletstalkcoquitlam.ca\u002Fbudget",[83],"nofollow","LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca\u002Fbudget",".",[75,87,88,89,93],{},"The survey covers the 2027 budget, which Council will approve before the end of the year. Mayor ",[79,90,92],{"href":91},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fcraig-hodge","Craig Hodge"," and the eight councillors elected on October 17 will make the final decisions, but the City says public feedback shapes the choices.",[95,96,98],"h2",{"id":97},"what-the-city-is-asking","What the City is asking",[75,100,101],{},"The survey asks one main question: how should Coquitlam balance funding and service levels?",[75,103,104],{},"Property taxes and utility fees pay for most City services, according to the City's November 2 announcement. That means every dollar increase in service costs either raises taxes and fees or cuts something else. The survey asks residents where they draw that line.",[75,106,107],{},"The City says it wants to \"strike the right balance between the levels of service you expect and the taxes and fees you are willing to pay.\"",[75,109,110,111,114],{},"Residents can find the survey at ",[79,112,84],{"href":81,"rel":113},[83],". It is the main public input channel before the budget is set.",[95,116,118],{"id":117},"why-costs-are-rising","Why costs are rising",[75,120,121],{},"The City's announcement calls this \"not a business-as-usual budget.\" It lists several reasons.",[75,123,124],{},"Labour costs are up. Construction materials cost more. Utilities, insurance and the cost of maintaining and replacing infrastructure have all risen. The City says factors outside its control, including market conditions and uncertainty around tariffs, make costs harder to predict.",[75,126,127],{},"The City also says the Province has shifted responsibilities to municipalities without the money to cover them. The November 2 announcement does not name specific programs or amounts.",[75,129,130],{},"Population growth adds to the pressure. As more people move to Coquitlam, the City says it must build and maintain more infrastructure: roads, water and sewer systems, community centres and parks. That infrastructure also wears out over time and needs to be replaced.",[75,132,133],{},"The City's announcement says its strong financial foundation gives it some ability to manage these pressures, but adds that \"the current economic environment demands difficult choices and a deliberate focus on affordability.\"",[95,135,137],{"id":136},"what-council-and-staff-are-aiming-for","What Council and staff are aiming for",[75,139,140],{},"The City says its priority in the 2027 budget is to maintain essential services, assets and infrastructure while keeping affordability in mind.",[75,142,143,144,148,149,148,153,148,157,148,161,148,165,148,169,173,174,178],{},"Council members ",[79,145,147],{"href":146},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmatt-djonlic","Matt Djonlic",", ",[79,150,152],{"href":151},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Frobert-mazzarolo","Robert Mazzarolo",[79,154,156],{"href":155},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fsteve-kim","Steve Kim",[79,158,160],{"href":159},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fteri-towner","Teri Towner",[79,162,164],{"href":163},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmatthew-sebastiani","Matthew Sebastiani",[79,166,168],{"href":167},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fharvey-su","Harvey Su",[79,170,172],{"href":171},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Frosalinda-thorleifson","Rosalinda Thorleifson"," and ",[79,175,177],{"href":176},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Fcandidates\u002Fbenjamin-perry","Benjamin Perry"," were all elected on October 17. This is the first budget all of them will vote on together as a new Council.",[75,180,181],{},"The City's announcement says the budget is developed over several months. It is guided by Council-approved financial policies, principles and plans, with community feedback as one of the inputs alongside those plans.",[75,183,184],{},"The budget covers all City services: parks and recreation, roads and water and sewer infrastructure, public safety, libraries and community centres. When the City raises or cuts service levels in any of those areas, the change shows up in property taxes or utility fees for every Coquitlam household.",[95,186,188],{"id":187},"what-is-in-the-current-capital-plan","What is in the current capital plan",[75,190,191,192,197],{},"Residents who want to see where the City is planning to spend on major projects can look at Coquitlam's OpenBook tool at ",[79,193,196],{"href":194,"rel":195},"https:\u002F\u002Fcoquitlam.openbook.questica.com\u002F",[83],"coquitlam.openbook.questica.com",". It shows the approved capital budgets for 2026 to 2030, with details on 16 major capital projects for 2026: each project's budget, a map of where the work is, and background information on what the project does.",[75,199,200],{},"The same tool shows the 2026 operating budget broken down by department and the 2025 Annual Report with an overview of City expenses and revenues for last year. It is designed to let residents explore City spending through charts, maps and graphs without reading a full budget document.",[75,202,203,204,85],{},"The City's broader financial approach, including its financial policies and principles, is at ",[79,205,208],{"href":206,"rel":207},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.coquitlam.ca\u002FFinancialPlan",[83],"coquitlam.ca\u002FFinancialPlan",[95,210,212],{"id":211},"what-the-survey-covers","What the survey covers",[75,214,215],{},"The annual budget survey is a chance to tell the City which services matter most and how much residents are willing to pay for them. The City says the survey guides decisions about service levels across everything the City operates.",[75,217,218],{},"The City's announcement describes the survey as a core part of how Council hears from the public: \"Public participation plays a key role in shaping the City's budget to reflect community priorities while addressing today's economic challenges.\"",[75,220,221],{},"Residents do not set a tax rate in the survey. They give the City a sense of what trade-offs they can accept. That information then goes into the months-long budget development process alongside staff analysis and Council's own financial policies.",[95,223,225],{"id":224},"what-comes-next-and-how-to-take-part","What comes next and how to take part",[75,227,228,229,232],{},"The survey is open until November 22, 2026, at ",[79,230,84],{"href":81,"rel":231},[83],". It takes a few minutes and does not require an account.",[75,234,235],{},"After November 22, Council and staff will use the results along with their financial analysis to build the 2027 budget. Council will approve it in a public meeting before the end of the year.",[75,237,238,239,242],{},"The promise tracker at ",[79,240,241],{"href":241},"\u002Fbc\u002Fcoquitlam-2026\u002Ftracker"," records what each elected person said they would do on issues like taxes and services. As the budget process moves forward and Council votes on it, the tracker will show how those votes line up with the promises each person made.",{"title":244,"searchDepth":245,"depth":245,"links":246},"",2,[247,248,249,250,251,252],{"id":97,"depth":245,"text":98},{"id":117,"depth":245,"text":118},{"id":136,"depth":245,"text":137},{"id":187,"depth":245,"text":188},{"id":211,"depth":245,"text":212},{"id":224,"depth":245,"text":225},[254,255,256,257,258,259,260,261,262],"craig-hodge","matt-djonlic","robert-mazzarolo","steve-kim","teri-towner","matthew-sebastiani","harvey-su","rosalinda-thorleifson","benjamin-perry","md",[265,268,271,274,277,280,283,286],{"question":266,"answer":267},"What is the Coquitlam 2027 budget survey?","The City of Coquitlam opened a public online survey on November 2, 2026 asking residents to share their views on the 2027 budget. The City uses this feedback to help set how much to spend on each service and how to balance service levels against the taxes and fees residents pay. The survey is open until November 22, 2026 at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca\u002Fbudget.",{"question":269,"answer":270},"Why does the City say this is not a business-as-usual budget?","The City's announcement from November 2, 2026 says costs are rising across the board: labour, construction materials, utilities, insurance and infrastructure maintenance. It also says the Province has shifted responsibilities to municipalities without the money to cover them. At the same time, Coquitlam is growing, which means more demand for roads, water, sewer, parks and community services.",{"question":272,"answer":273},"What are the main cost pressures the City has named?","According to the City's November 2 announcement, the main pressures are labour costs, construction materials, utilities, insurance, and the cost of maintaining and replacing existing infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems. The City says factors outside its control, including market conditions and uncertainty around tariffs, also make costs harder to predict.",{"question":275,"answer":276},"Who will decide the 2027 budget?","Coquitlam City Council, which includes Mayor Craig Hodge and councillors Matt Djonlic, Robert Mazzarolo, Steve Kim, Teri Towner, Matthew Sebastiani, Harvey Su, Rosalinda Thorleifson and Benjamin Perry, will approve the final 2027 budget. All nine were elected on October 17, 2026.",{"question":278,"answer":279},"What can residents look at to understand current City spending?","The City's OpenBook tool at coquitlam.openbook.questica.com shows the 2026 to 2030 approved capital budgets, details on 16 major capital projects including their maps and budgets, the 2026 operating budget broken down by department, and the 2025 Annual Report. The City's financial plan overview is at coquitlam.ca\u002FFinancialPlan.",{"question":281,"answer":282},"What does the survey ask about?","The City says its survey asks residents how to balance funding against service levels. Because most City services are paid for by property taxes and utility fees, the survey asks residents to weigh what service levels they expect against the taxes and fees they are willing to pay, according to the City's November 2, 2026 announcement.",{"question":284,"answer":285},"When does the survey close, and where can residents take it?","The survey closes November 22, 2026. Residents can take it at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca\u002Fbudget. For more information about the budget process, the City's financial planning information is at coquitlam.ca\u002FFinancialPlan.",{"question":287,"answer":288},"What is the City's current capital budget cycle?","The City's OpenBook tool shows the 2026 to 2030 approved capital budgets. It lists 16 major capital projects for 2026 with their budgets, maps and background details. The 2025 Annual Report is also available through the same tool, showing the overview of expenses and revenues for the City.","2026-11-04T07:27:00-07:00",{"short":291,"long":292,"hashtags":293},"Coquitlam wants to hear from residents before it sets its 2027 budget. The survey is open until November 22.","The City of Coquitlam opened its annual budget survey on November 2 and is asking residents how to balance rising costs against service levels. Labour, construction, insurance and infrastructure maintenance costs are all going up. The survey closes November 22 at LetsTalkCoquitlam.ca\u002Fbudget.",[294,295,296],"Coquitlam","CoquitlamBC","MunicipalBudget",{"sourceName":298},"voche.me","Coquitlam is asking residents how to balance labour, construction and insurance costs against service levels in its 2027 budget. Survey closes November 22.",true,"https:\u002F\u002Fcoquitlam.ca\u002FCivicAlerts.aspx?aid=2079",{"title":6,"description":7},"feature:2026-11-04",[305,307,309,311],{"label":306,"url":301},"City of Coquitlam: Have Your Say on Coquitlam's 2027 Budget",{"label":308,"url":81},"LetsTalkCoquitlam: Budget Survey",{"label":310,"url":206},"City of Coquitlam: Financial Plan",{"label":312,"url":194},"Coquitlam OpenBook","news\u002Fcoquitlam-2027-budget-survey-november-2026","feature",[13,14,15],"coquitlam-2027-budget-november-2026\u002Ffeature","5q5tBPSK3EUdX1WWq5hrqkSiTNSVsiqkBGKpQxZQcTg",[319,330,339,346,354,362,369,376,384],{"slug":254,"name":92,"office":50,"party":18,"portrait":320,"colour":329,"palette":18},{"src":321,"smallSrc":322,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":325,"credit":326,"sourceUrl":327,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fcraig-hodge-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fcraig-hodge-320.webp",640,800,"Craig Hodge, from Elect Craig Hodge for Mayor of Coquitlam.","Elect Craig Hodge for Mayor of Coquitlam","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.craighodge.ca\u002Fachievements","50% 30%","blue",{"slug":255,"name":147,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":332,"colour":338,"palette":18},"Councillor",{"src":333,"smallSrc":334,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":335,"credit":336,"sourceUrl":337,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmatt-djonlic-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmatt-djonlic-320.webp","Matt Djonlic, from Re-Elect Matt Djonlic for Coquitlam City Council.","Re-Elect Matt Djonlic for Coquitlam City Council","https:\u002F\u002Fmattdjonlic.ca\u002F","teal",{"slug":256,"name":152,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":340,"colour":338,"palette":18},{"src":341,"smallSrc":342,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":343,"credit":344,"sourceUrl":345,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Frobert-mazzarolo-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Frobert-mazzarolo-320.webp","Robert Mazzarolo, from Mazzarolo for City Council.","Mazzarolo for City Council","https:\u002F\u002Frobertmazzarolo.com\u002F",{"slug":257,"name":156,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":347,"colour":353,"palette":18},{"src":348,"smallSrc":349,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":350,"credit":351,"sourceUrl":352,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fsteve-kim-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fsteve-kim-320.webp","Steve Kim, from Re-Elect Steve Kim for Coquitlam Council.","Re-Elect Steve Kim for Coquitlam Council","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.stevekim4council.ca\u002F","plum",{"slug":258,"name":160,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":355,"colour":361,"palette":18},{"src":356,"smallSrc":357,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":358,"credit":359,"sourceUrl":360,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fteri-towner-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fteri-towner-320.webp","Teri Towner, from Teri Towner, Coquitlam City Council 2026.","Teri Towner, Coquitlam City Council 2026","https:\u002F\u002Fteritowner.ca\u002F","fern",{"slug":259,"name":164,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":363,"colour":361,"palette":18},{"src":364,"smallSrc":365,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":366,"credit":367,"sourceUrl":368,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmatthew-sebastiani-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fmatthew-sebastiani-320.webp","Matthew Sebastiani, from Matthew Sebastiani for Coquitlam City Council.","Matthew Sebastiani for Coquitlam City Council","https:\u002F\u002Fmatthewsebastiani.ca\u002F",{"slug":260,"name":168,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":370,"colour":329,"palette":18},{"src":371,"smallSrc":372,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":373,"credit":374,"sourceUrl":375,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fharvey-su-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fharvey-su-320.webp","Harvey Su, from Elect Harvey Su for Coquitlam City Council.","Elect Harvey Su for Coquitlam City Council","https:\u002F\u002Fharveysu.com\u002F",{"slug":261,"name":172,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":377,"colour":383,"palette":18},{"src":378,"smallSrc":379,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":380,"credit":381,"sourceUrl":382,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Frosalinda-thorleifson-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Frosalinda-thorleifson-320.webp","Rosalinda Thorleifson, from Rosalinda for Coquitlam City Council.","Rosalinda for Coquitlam City Council","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rosalindaforcouncil.ca\u002F","rose",{"slug":262,"name":177,"office":331,"party":18,"portrait":385,"colour":383,"palette":18},{"src":386,"smallSrc":387,"width":323,"height":324,"alt":388,"credit":389,"sourceUrl":390,"position":328},"\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fbenjamin-perry-640.webp","\u002Fimages\u002Fcandidates\u002Fbenjamin-perry-320.webp","Benjamin Perry, from Benjamin Perry for Coquitlam 2026.","Benjamin Perry for Coquitlam 2026","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.benjaminperry.ca\u002Fabout-benjamin-perry\u002F",1793810987743]