The Town of Carman has approved its 2026 financial plan, outlining $8.4 million in municipal spending while increasing reserves and continuing investments in infrastructure and core services.
Council finalized the balanced budget earlier this spring, with total municipal revenue and expenditures both set at $8,447,979.
The financial plan was reviewed in March, followed by a public hearing on March 26 that gave residents an opportunity to provide input before final approval.
A key decision during the budget process was to increase the town’s general reserve, a move Chief Administrative Officer Susan Stein said reflects a stronger focus on long-term financial planning.
“Council recognized the importance of long-term financial planning and proactive asset management when reviewing the 2026 financial plan,” Stein said. “Increasing the general reserve helps ensure that the Town is better prepared to fund future infrastructure projects and address unexpected costs without placing additional pressure on taxpayers.”
She added that maintaining healthy reserves also aligns with provincial expectations.
“In addition, the Province of Manitoba has guidelines related to reserve balances and withdrawals, and strengthening our reserves helps ensure the Town remains aligned with those expectations,” she said.
The town has also budgeted $195,800 in transfers to reserves in 2026, supporting future capital needs and financial stability.
To support ongoing operations, council approved additional reserve transfers totalling $211,784 from general and utility reserves to general chequing.
Municipal revenue for 2026 is projected at $8.4 million, including $4.5 million from municipal taxes and grants in lieu of taxes, along with $3.7 million in other revenue such as user fees, grants and service charges.
As part of the tax structure, the town will collect $2.55 million in education taxes on behalf of the province and school divisions.
On the spending side, transportation services account for the largest share of the budget at $1.77 million, covering road maintenance, snow clearing and drainage work.
Recreation and cultural services follow at $1.82 million, supporting local facilities and programming, while protective services—including policing and fire protection—are budgeted at just over $1.1 million.
General government services are projected at approximately $1.12 million, with additional investments in environmental health, development and public health services rounding out the operating budget.
Fiscal services, including debt-related costs, are set at $1.67 million, reflecting the town’s ongoing infrastructure investments and financial obligations.
The 2026 capital budget totals approximately $1.54 million and includes several major projects, such as $603,568 in fire hall upgrades, $225,446 for trestle bridge work and $178,825 for improvements to the community pool and recreation facilities.
Additional capital spending includes $150,000 for a front-end loader, $250,000 toward a lift station project and $90,000 for a potential purchase of land for the airport.
Council also approved several related expenditures during its March 3 meeting, including $112,875 for new boilers at the Carman-Dufferin pool and the purchase of a John Deere 1445 unit for $5,000.
Annual grants totalling $294,729.77 were approved for local organizations, including the Boyne Regional Library, Boundary Trails Health Centre, Carman Handi-Van and the Golden Prairie Arts Council.
Council also passed a bylaw to implement a water rate pass-through, reflecting increased costs from the Pembina Valley Water Co-operative that will be applied to local users.
In addition, an agreement with Bell Canada to implement enhanced 911 services was approved.
Stein said the upgrade will improve emergency response times and accuracy.
“The implementation of enhanced 911 services will significantly improve emergency response capabilities in our community,” she said. “With this system, a caller’s location and phone number will be automatically provided to dispatchers when calling from both landlines and mobile devices.”
“This allows emergency services to respond more quickly and accurately, particularly in situations where a caller may be unable to clearly communicate their location.”
Other decisions tied to the budget process included declining participation in Central Manitoba Tourism for 2026, with council opting to prioritize local initiatives.
Council also gave first reading to a new unsightly properties bylaw aimed at improving community standards.
Utility operations remain balanced for 2026, with revenues and expenditures both projected at approximately $2.07 million, funded primarily through user fees.
Overall, the 2026 financial plan reflects a steady approach focused on maintaining core services while strengthening reserves and investing in infrastructure to support future growth.
