Where every party stands on budget
3 of the 3 parties on the October 17 ballot have published something on taxes and the city budget. Here they are side by side, each with its source.
BEFORE YOU COMPARE
Who actually decides this
Under the Community Charter a municipality adopts a five-year financial plan by bylaw each year (section 165), and Council then sets the year’s property tax rates by bylaw before May 15 (section 197).
Read the commitments below against that. Where a party proposes something the city cannot do on its own, the commitment carries a line naming who holds the power. That is not a criticism of the promise. A council can lobby, fund and argue, and saying so plainly is more useful than pretending the limit does not exist.
WHAT THE COMPARISON SHOWS
Reading this ballot on budget
3 of the 3 parties have published something here, and between them they have made 16 separate commitments. One Delta has published the most, with 7.
Not one of these commitments carries a dollar figure, a count or a percentage. They set a direction, which means there is nothing here to check against a budget later.
SIDE BY SIDE
Every published position on budget
| Party | Published position | Commitments |
|---|---|---|
| One Delta | One Delta's platform promises no new taxes, levies or fees for residents, a cap on property tax increases at the rate of inflation, a dedicated economic development office, a ban on business class travel for elected officials and staff, a new procurement strategy favouring local businesses, and a new recreation centre in North Delta paid for without new taxes. | 7 |
| Delta First | Delta First's platform promises a zero-based review of the City's budget, limits on property tax increases through savings found before new spending, public financial dashboards, clearer explanations of utility and tax rates, and an economic development vision for industrial land and the Tilbury area. It names no tax rate and no dollar target. | 5 |
| Achieving for Delta | Achieving for Delta's 2026 platform promises to freeze scheduled City fee increases in 2027, to keep property tax increases among the lowest in Metro Vancouver, to protect police, fire and core services, and to grow the commercial and industrial tax base. It names no tax rate. | 4 |
ONE DELTA
No new taxes, levies or fees, and an economic development office
One Delta's platform promises no new taxes, levies or fees for residents, a cap on property tax increases at the rate of inflation, a dedicated economic development office, a ban on business class travel for elected officials and staff, a new procurement strategy favouring local businesses, and a new recreation centre in North Delta paid for without new taxes.
- No new taxes, levies or fees
- Cap property tax increases at the rate of inflation
- Open a dedicated economic development office
- Ban business class travel for elected officials and staff
DELTA FIRST
A zero-based budget review and limits on property tax increases
Delta First's platform promises a zero-based review of the City's budget, limits on property tax increases through savings found before new spending, public financial dashboards, clearer explanations of utility and tax rates, and an economic development vision for industrial land and the Tilbury area. It names no tax rate and no dollar target.
- Zero-based review of the City budget
- Limit property tax increases
- Public financial dashboards and clearer rate explanations
- Economic development vision for industrial land and Tilbury
ACHIEVING FOR DELTA
A freeze on scheduled City fee increases in 2027 and low property tax increases
Achieving for Delta's 2026 platform promises to freeze scheduled City fee increases in 2027, to keep property tax increases among the lowest in Metro Vancouver, to protect police, fire and core services, and to grow the commercial and industrial tax base. It names no tax rate.
- Freeze scheduled City fee increases in 2027
- Keep property tax increases among the lowest in Metro Vancouver
- Grow the commercial and industrial tax base
- Continue the YAK Pass and invest in parks