Village Of Cumberland 2025 Budget ‘Guided By Community Needs’

Cumberland Council has approved the Village’s 2025 to 2029 financial plan, which the Village says prioritizes community needs, including safer roads, better services, active transportation, and more effective bylaw enforcement.

The plan includes an increase to property tax revenues of 7.83%. It also includes an increase to parcel tax revenues, necessary for the replacement of sewer, storm and water utility lines, as well as increases to the quarterly utility fees for solid waste collection, water system and sewer system operations.

The overall impact to an average single-family dwelling is a 7.29% increase for 2025. While parcel taxes have dropped slightly in 2025, residents can expect future increases due to an expected rise in interest rates for the water system capital debt.

The Village notes that unlike Comox and Courtenay, which pay the regional district to operate their drinking water and sewer system, Cumberland operates its own sewer and water treatment facilities. It will mean an extra $250 per year for the average single-family dwelling.

Budget highlights include:

• road and underground utility line upgrades
• traffic safety improvements
• a review of utility rates and connections fees
• continued partnerships with community organizations to provide community services, including the youth centre, trail maintenance, Lake Park operations, the Cumberland Museum, Victoria Day celebrations, and the Village Square concert series.

There is also more planning for the long-term civic redevelopment of municipal buildings on Dunsmuir Avenue, which would include housing components.

You can have a look at the plan at Village of Cumberland.