Whistler Council has approved an 8.25 percent tax increase for 2025. RMOW staff originally proposed a 9.1 percent increase at the Tuesday, Dec. 3 Regular Council meeting, but the figure was reduced to 8.1 percent by Council.
Whistler council has also set utility parcel tax rates and user fees for 2025. The sewer charges will increase by eight percent, solid waste will increase by five percent, and the water rate will increase by four percent. At a council meeting in December, Mayor Jack Crompton also asked to explore alternative transportation solutions, such as a valley bottom pedestrian gondola and extra funding to support the existing Pemberton commuter service. The additional expenses added $75,000 to the proposed budget.
Three core investments
Three core investments make up 50 percent of the tax increase
Supporting the year-round, day-time staffing announced for Spring Creek Fire Hall in 2024;
Maintaining the transit service expansion temporarily funded by the Province of BC’s COVID-Safe Restart Grant;
Establishing the funding base to pay for Whistler’s RCMP detachment in 2027.
“These core investments in policing, fire and transit are real costs — our costs. This budget does not propose shiny new buildings or to create new staff roles,” says Crompton. “We should pay our bills and not kick this down the road. I don’t think that’s fair for future community members and Councils.”
For 2025, the operational budget to run the day-to-day business of the municipality is $110 million, and the budget for project work is $38.6 million. These amounts include $11.8 million in provincial Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funds and Municipal and Regional District programs (MRDT) this year, provincial funds stemming from tourism to be spent supporting tourism.