By Staff
Selkirk Council has delivered its 2026 budget. The budget includes continued investment in transportation infrastructure with multiple road resurfacing projects, plans for improvements to the Selkirk Recreation Complex, the reopening of the Garry Theatre, expanded public transit services, and concrete steps towards the development of a new multi-purpose recreation facility in the downtown. The city boasts that it is doing this while keeping taxes affordable, thanks to continued growth in the city.
Growth allowed the city to keep its tax increase to 2.99 per cent. The city’s increase is less than the City of Winnipeg and Brandon, whose rates rose by 3.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.
The city’s tax rate has been steadily declining over the last two decades. While the city’s mill rate (the rate of taxation for property) has decreased by an annualized average of 1.4 per cent, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has gone up by an annual average of 2.2 per cent. So, while costs to deliver municipal services have gone up, the city has been able to, overall, reduce the rate of taxation over those decades.
In 2004, a residential property owner in the City of Selkirk paid $1,474 per $100,000 of portioned assessment. In 2024, a residential homeowner paid $1,036 per $100,000 of portioned assessment. In 2025, that rate was $920.61, and in 2026, that rate will be $948.15.
“Selkirk continues to experience growth, and the city has planned for this growth, and it’s what’s helped us keep taxes affordable,” said Selkirk’s Mayor Larry Johannson.
Non-discretionary spending are costs that are out of the city’s control, including things like Hydro, waste disposal, and policing. According to the city, these costs account for 70 per cent of city spending and rose by more than $560,000 over 2025 levels this year.
The city continues to work towards closing its infrastructure deficit, which is the difference between what is being spent on infrastructure and what the city should be spending to maintain its condition. To do that, the city’s Capital Asset Management Program (CAMP) recommends setting new reserve targets.
“This year, we will be completely remaking our financial reserve system to better align with CAMP. This new system will set out new reserve fund targets, and it will require a new reporting system to make it easier to quantify our financial health and sustainability,” said Duane Nicol, Selkirk’s Chief Administrative Officer.
The city’s asset registry, created as part of CAMP, lists all city assets and assigns each of them a condition. All street improvements planned for this year are aligned with the conditions recorded in the registry.
In 2026, asphalt overlays will be done on the 600 block of McLean Avenue, while an asphalt replacement will be completed on Morrison Avenue between Montgomery and Eveline.
Replacement of curbs and asphalt surface will take place on the 600 block of Vaughan Avenue, the 700 block of McLean Avenue and the 400 block of Queen Avenue.
The existing sidewalk in the 300 block of Greenwood will also be replaced.
The city is in the final stages of preparing the feasibility study for the proposed ‘regional recreation campus’, which would be a multi-purpose downtown facility that will replace the Barn and Memorial Hall. The city will begin the detailed design for the facility in 2026.
A business plan for the Selkirk Museum, a brick-and-mortar facility, is expected to be completed this year.
The first phase of the West End development will see the beginnings of its transportation network take shape this year. The main regional streets will have design work finalized this year and will be shovel ready to go in the spring. Parcels of land will be subdivided and put up for sale.
Selkirk Transit will see improvements to its service in 2026. It starts with ordering new lower-emission vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the city move toward a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system. Transit will also launch free service for youth, making it easier for young people to get to school, jobs, and recreation options. Selkirk Transit will also pilot a special summertime route, which will link the existing transit route with the Selkirk Park.
Selkirk will complete updates to its zoning by-law and Development Plan, as required by the province under provincial legislation. The updated Plan will set out land use and development standards, guiding the growth and evolution of the city.
The City is also reminding residents that 2026 is a Census year. The Census is a nationwide survey conducted every five years that collects key information about our population and communities. Participation is extremely important because the data collected helps guide decisions on the allocation of government funding and the planning of essential community services such as schools, healthcare, and infrastructure. Filling out the Census ensures that Selkirk receives the resources and services it needs.
