2026 Village of Burns Lake Budget Survey

We want to hear from you!

The Village of Burns Lake invites you to participate in the financial planning process by providing feedback on municipal services.

Your input will help Council understand community priorities, evaluate current service levels, and balance them with taxes and fees paid by residents.

What is a budget?

The budget is a plan that sets out anticipated spending for the year and identifies the sources of revenue used to fund those costs. It determines the services the municipality will provide, as well as planned improvements and expenses related to facilities and infrastructure. A budget is the blueprint that outlines how municipal funds are collected and allocated.

Municipalities are required to "balance" the budget, meaning that revenues must cover 100% of the costs of providing services. As the cost of services continue to rise due to inflation - including higher prices for goods and wage costs - revenue generated from property taxes and fees must also increase to cover costs if services are to be maintained.

Thank you very much for your input!

Deadline for submission Jan 30, 2026.

Question Title

* 1. Which answer below best describes you?

I own a home within the Village of Burns Lake

I rent within the Village of Burns lake

I live in Rural Area B or Area E and access Burns Lake for services

I own a business in the Village of Burns Lake

I own a business and a home in the Village of Burns Lake

None of the above

Question Title

* 2. What do you feel are the most important community issues in Burns Lake? Rank them by checking the column that most represents how you feel.

	Very Important	Important	Neutral	Less Important	Not Important
Accessibility	Accessibility Very Important	Accessibility Important	Accessibility Neutral	Accessibility Less Important	Accessibility Not Important
Access to Health Services	Access to Health Services Very Important	Access to Health Services Important	Access to Health Services Neutral	Access to Health Services Less Important	Access to Health Services Not Important
Age-targeted Programs and Services	Age-targeted Programs and Services Very Important	Age-targeted Programs and Services Important	Age-targeted Programs and Services Neutral	Age-targeted Programs and Services Less Important	Age-targeted Programs and Services Not Important
Air Quality	Air Quality Very Important	Air Quality Important	Air Quality Neutral	Air Quality Less Important	Air Quality Not Important
Animal Control	Animal Control Very Important	Animal Control Important	Animal Control Neutral	Animal Control Less Important	Animal Control Not Important
Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability	Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Very Important	Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Important	Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Neutral	Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Less Important	Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Not Important
Economic Diversification and Development	Economic Diversification and Development Very Important	Economic Diversification and Development Important	Economic Diversification and Development Neutral	Economic Diversification and Development Less Important	Economic Diversification and Development Not Important
Governance, Transparency, and Engagement Opportunities	Governance, Transparency, and Engagement Opportunities Very Important	Governance, Transparency, and Engagement Opportunities Important	Governance, Transparency, and Engagement Opportunities Neutral	Governance, Transparency, and Engagement Opportunities Less Important	Governance, Transparency, and Engagement Opportunities Not Important
Housing Availability and Affordability	Housing Availability and Affordability Very Important	Housing Availability and Affordability Important	Housing Availability and Affordability Neutral	Housing Availability and Affordability Less Important	Housing Availability and Affordability Not Important
Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (sewer, water, and roads)	Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (sewer, water, and roads) Very Important	Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (sewer, water, and roads) Important	Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (sewer, water, and roads) Neutral	Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (sewer, water, and roads) Less Important	Infrastructure Maintenance & Renewal (sewer, water, and roads) Not Important
Mental Health, Addiction and Overdose	Mental Health, Addiction and Overdose Very Important	Mental Health, Addiction and Overdose Important	Mental Health, Addiction and Overdose Neutral	Mental Health, Addiction and Overdose Less Important	Mental Health, Addiction and Overdose Not Important
Public Safety and Emergency Services	Public Safety and Emergency Services Very Important	Public Safety and Emergency Services Important	Public Safety and Emergency Services Neutral	Public Safety and Emergency Services Less Important	Public Safety and Emergency Services Not Important
Recreation Opportunities	Recreation Opportunities Very Important	Recreation Opportunities Important	Recreation Opportunities Neutral	Recreation Opportunities Less Important	Recreation Opportunities Not Important
Reconciliation and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples	Reconciliation and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples Very Important	Reconciliation and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples Important	Reconciliation and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples Neutral	Reconciliation and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples Less Important	Reconciliation and Relationships with Indigenous Peoples Not Important
Reliable Transportation Networks (trails, walking paths, and sidewalks)	Reliable Transportation Networks (trails, walking paths, and sidewalks) Very Important	Reliable Transportation Networks (trails, walking paths, and sidewalks) Important	Reliable Transportation Networks (trails, walking paths, and sidewalks) Neutral	Reliable Transportation Networks (trails, walking paths, and sidewalks) Less Important	Reliable Transportation Networks (trails, walking paths, and sidewalks) Not Important

Comments

Question Title

* 3. What do you feel are the most important services/programs that the Village of Burns Lake provides? The top item being the most important. Rank them by clicking the arrows on the right to move them up or down the list.

Question Title

* 4. All municipalities, including the Village of Burns Lake, are required to have a balanced budget each year. That means the expenses cannot be more than the revenue available.

Inflation increases the cost of providing these services. As a result, revenue must also be increased to maintain the same level of service.

What do you think the property tax change should be in 2026 based on your expectations for services?

Decrease property taxes - substantial reduction in service levels and infrastructure maintenance.

No or minimal property tax increase - reduces service levels and infrastructure maintenance.

No or minimal property tax increase - maintain lower tax increases by increasing user fees (e.g. recreation, cemetery), with reduced service levels and infrastructure investment.

Increase property taxes only to the extent necessary - maintains the existing level of service; estimated as 5% to keep up with inflation.

Increase property taxes above inflation - an increase above the 5% (estimated) to enhance service levels and increase investment in infrastructure maintenance and renewal.

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. If you answered in favor of a property tax increase, what services would you like to see improved? (Check up to 5)

Note - services funded through other sources, such as user fees or grant funding have not been included as options.

Animal Control

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Bylaw Enforcement

Cemetery Services

Economic Development

Emergency Services and Fire Protection

Land Use Planning and Zoning

Multiplex Recreational Facility

Parks, Playgrounds, Greenspace, and Trails

Road and Sidewalk Maintenance

Snow Removal

Tourism

Victim Services

Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Infrastructure

Comments

Question Title

* 6. If you answered in favor of no or minimal property tax increase, what services would you like to see decreased? (Check up to 5)

Note - services funded through other sources, such as user fees or grant funding have not been included as options.

Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Bylaw Enforcement

Cemetery Services

Economic Development

Emergency Services and Fire Protection

Land Use Planning and Zoning

Multiplex Recreational Facility

Parks, Playgrounds, Greenspace, and Trails

Road and Sidewalk Maintenance

Snow Removal

Tourism

Victim Services

Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Management

Comments

Question Title

* 7. If you are a resident, would you support changing garbage collection from once a week to once every two weeks, if it resulted in smaller user fee increases over time?

Yes

Comments

Question Title

* 8. If you are a business, would you support changing garbage collection from twice a week to once a week, if it resulted in smaller user fee increases over time?

Yes

Comments

Question Title

* 9. What age group do you belong to?

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

Question Title

* 10. How long have you lived in the Village of Burns Lake

Years

Months

Question Title

* 11. How did you discover the Village of Burns Lake's Survey?

Facebook

burnslake.ca

A friend

Newspaper

Village Office

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 12. How would you like to learn about the budget and where tax dollars are going?

Facebook

Flyer delivered by mail

Flyer delivered digitally

Newspaper advertisements

Village of Burns Lake Open House

Budget Summary

Other

Question Title

* 13. Please provide any additional feedback. This could be comments on things the Village is doing well, areas of improvement, additional services you would like to see, or anything else you would like us to know.

2026 Village of Burns Lake Budget Survey

We want to hear from you!

Question Title

* 1. Which answer below best describes you?

Question Title

* 2. What do you feel are the most important community issues in Burns Lake? Rank them by checking the column that most represents how you feel.

Question Title

* 3. What do you feel are the most important services/programs that the Village of Burns Lake provides? The top item being the most important. Rank them by clicking the arrows on the right to move them up or down the list.

Question Title

Question Title

* 5. If you answered in favor of a property tax increase, what services would you like to see improved? (Check up to 5)Note - services funded through other sources, such as user fees or grant funding have not been included as options.

Question Title

* 6. If you answered in favor of no or minimal property tax increase, what services would you like to see decreased? (Check up to 5)Note - services funded through other sources, such as user fees or grant funding have not been included as options.

Question Title

* 7. If you are a resident, would you support changing garbage collection from once a week to once every two weeks, if it resulted in smaller user fee increases over time?

Question Title

* 8. If you are a business, would you support changing garbage collection from twice a week to once a week, if it resulted in smaller user fee increases over time?

Question Title

* 9. What age group do you belong to?

Question Title

* 10. How long have you lived in the Village of Burns Lake

Question Title

* 11. How did you discover the Village of Burns Lake's Survey?

Question Title

* 12. How would you like to learn about the budget and where tax dollars are going?

Question Title

* 13. Please provide any additional feedback. This could be comments on things the Village is doing well, areas of improvement, additional services you would like to see, or anything else you would like us to know.

* 5. If you answered in favor of a property tax increase, what services would you like to see improved? (Check up to 5)

Note - services funded through other sources, such as user fees or grant funding have not been included as options.

* 6. If you answered in favor of no or minimal property tax increase, what services would you like to see decreased? (Check up to 5)

Note - services funded through other sources, such as user fees or grant funding have not been included as options.