Cranbrook Residents Urged to Review Budget and Staff Expenditures

The city of Cranbrook is currently seeking input from residents as it prepares for the budget planning process for the year 2026. The local council has initiated a survey to gather feedback from citizens, encouraging them to express their views regarding the upcoming financial plans. This call for participation comes at a time when many residents are reflecting on recent trends in taxation and city expenditures.

Concerns Over Tax Increases and Staff Compensation

Residents like Douglas McLachlan have taken a closer look at the city’s financial history and expressed concerns over the increases in residential taxes and city staff remuneration. Over the past five years, residential taxes in Cranbrook have risen by 25.69%. The specific increases for each year are as follows: 2021 – 2.35%, 2022 – 2.75%, 2023 – 5.87%, 2024 – 8.32%, and 2025 – 6.4%.

McLachlan highlights notable changes in the city’s staffing expenditures, which he believes warrant scrutiny before any further tax increases are implemented. In reviewing the city’s Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) for 2020 against that of 2024, he found a significant surge in employee remuneration. In 2020, the total employee remuneration was $12,945,394, whereas in 2024, it escalated to $18,894,973. This marks an increase of $5,949,579, or 31.4% within just four years.

Public Transparency and Accountability

McLachlan urges fellow residents to participate in the city’s budget survey, emphasizing the importance of providing honest feedback regarding financial decisions. He expressed appreciation for the transparency surrounding the city’s finances, which allows residents to understand how their tax dollars are allocated.

“I share this public information with the hope that our council focuses on these huge increases before asking the residents to cough up another tax increase this year,” McLachlan stated. His call to action serves as a reminder of the necessity for oversight and accountability in municipal spending.

The city council’s survey is a pivotal opportunity for residents to voice their opinions and concerns as Cranbrook navigates its financial future. Engaging in this process could influence how the council addresses both taxation and expenditure priorities in the coming years.