Maintaining and improving the quality of life for everyone in Fredericton depends on the efficient and reliable delivery of city programs and services. It’s the city’s annual budget that determines how we pay for these vital services.
Think about how many City services affect you every day. The roads and public transit system that people depend on to get around; the police, bylaws and fire services that people depend on for their safety; the parks and waste management services that contribute to clean and healthy living; the social and leisure activities that help make Fredericton a vibrant, inclusive, and rewarding place to live and visit.
Every service that touches Frederictonians in their day-to-day lives has associated costs. The city’s budget identifies those costs, and the sources of revenue that will pay for those services. A new budget is created and proposed every year.
Tax Rates:
- Inside Property Tax Rate. The inside tax rate will drop from $1.3286 to $1.3086 per $100 of assessment. This affects approximately 90% of households.
- Outside / Annexed Property Tax Rate.
- The outside tax rate will increase from $1.1065 to $1.1565.
- Saint Mary’s will increase from $0.5659 to $0.6159 per $100 of assessment.
- Douglas, Pepper Creek and Estey’s Bridge will increase from $0.6786 to $0.7286 per $100 of assessment.
- Lakeside Estates will increase from $0.6362 to $0.6862 per $100 of assessment.
- For economic development reasons, there will be no increase in the Lincoln area of Fredericton, which remains at $0.5042 per $100 of assessment. The Fredericton International Airport is the largest property located in this area.
- NOTE: All these areas will pay an additional tax rate of $0.4115 to the province for road maintenance.
Fee Increases:
The following transit fares and rates come into effect on January 1, 20250:
- Senior Annual Pass increases from $60.00 to $65.00 per year
- Charter Services will increase from $130.00 to $150.00 per hour
The following parking rates will come into effect on January 1, 2025:
- Annual residential parking permits will increase from $24.00 to $30.00 per year
- Sidewalk café permits will increase from $500.00 to $750.00 per parking spot per season
The following parking rates will come into effect on April 1, 2025:
- 4 hours meters will increase from $1.50 to $2.00 per hour
- York Lot, Frederick’s Square Garage and East End Garage hourly rate will increase from $1.25 to $1.50 per hour
- York Lot, Officer’s Square Lot and Frederick’s Square Garage monthly fee will increase from $120.00 per month to $130.00 per month
- East End Garage daily maximum will increase from $15.00 to $16.50 per day
- East End monthly fee will increase from $130.00 to $140.00 per month
- the quarterly service charge will increase from $67.50 to $72.30 for each of water and sewer, plus a monthly meter rental charge.
Water & Sewer Utility
The 2025 Budget for the City of Fredericton Water & Sewer utility will be $24,485,517. The operating budget will be $13,169,740 with $11,315,777 being spent on capital projects.
The Utility is funded separately from the City’s general fund, deriving all its revenue from rates charged and funding received from other levels of government.
Water and sewer rates will go up in 2025. Effective with the second quarterly billing in 2025, the following will apply:
- the commodity charge per cubic meter will increase from $1.00 to $1.02 for each of water and sewer, and
- the quarterly flat rate commodity charge will increase from $74.76 to $82.25 for each of water and sewer
- Increase the bulk water rate per cubic meter from $2.47 to $2.51
- The quarterly meter rental rates will also be increasing to reflect the cost of meters and varies by meter size. For the majority of users (residential) the rate will increase from $2.00 to $2.15 per quarter.
The typical Fredericton household will pay just $2.70 daily for safe, secure and reliable water along with environmentally sound wastewater treatment.
Additional Resources:
City Council adopted a 2024 Budget of $168.2M that accounts for inflation while continuing to deliver and enhance services to all residents living in a growing city.
For the third year in a row, Fredericton City Council has reduced the inside property tax rate. The reduction of one cent per $100 of assessment will apply to 88 per cent of city households and all local businesses. This totals a cumulative property tax reduction for of 10.25 cents over the past three years for these residents.
For those 12 per cent of households on the outside / annexed tax rate, an increase of five cents per $100 of assessment has been approved.
This increase is based on a new Property Tax Rate Alignment Strategy, which reflects the fact that these households have access to almost all the same programs and services as those paying the inside rate. Tax increases for newly annexed households was outlined as part of Local Governance Reform.
The $168,217,884 budget will permit existing programs and services to continue while allowing for Sunday transit service, new police officers and firefighters, one new building inspector, more community safety officers, and funds to acquire and service land for affordable housing.
It will also provide funds to support anti-racism and social inclusion efforts, initiatives at the Fredericton Botanic Garden, losses experienced by the Harvest Music Festival due to last year’s Post Tropical Storm Lee, and increased efforts related to recycling and composting in the City.
Additional funds will go to support the University of New Brunswick’s efforts to redevelop the old Justice Building into a new Law School, operational funding for programming in Officers’ Square, enhancements to the public realm in Downtown Fredericton and along Main Street, as well as heritage planning.
A capital construction budget of $28.3M has been approved. A total of $3.5M in grants and contributions to community organizations have been approved, including $643,000 in Community Grants to support strategic partners, community efforts, and a new category related to climate change action. A separate Water & Sewer Utility Budget of $23.4 was also approved.
Tax Rates:
- Inside Property Tax Rate. The inside tax rate will drop from $1.3386 to $1.3286 per $100 of assessment. This affects 88% of households.
- Outside / Annexed Property Tax Rate.
- The outside tax rate will increase from $1.0565 to $1.1065.
- Saint Mary’s will increase from $0.5159 to $0.5659 per $100 of assessment.
- Douglas, Pepper Creek and Estey’s Bridge will increase from $0.6286 to $0.6786 per $100 of assessment.
- Lakeside Estates will increase from $0.5862 to $0.6362 per $100 of assessment.
- For economic development reasons, there will be no increase in the Lincoln area of Fredericton, which remains at $0.5042 per $100 of assessment. The Fredericton International Airport is the only property located in this area.
- NOTE: All these areas will pay an additional tax rate of $0.4115 to the province for road maintenance. Some of the tax collected by the City will transfer back to the Province for garbage and recycling, as well as RCMP contract.
Fee Increases:
The following transit fares and rates come into effect on January 1, 2024:
- Cash Fare increases from $2.75 to $3.00 per trip
- Debit/Credit Card Fare increases from $2.75 to $3.00 per trip
- Fixed Route 10-Ride Card increases from $2.50 to $2.75 per trip
- Adult Monthly Pass increases from $80.00 to $85.00 per month
- Student Monthly Pass increases from $55.00 to $60.00 per month
- Senior Annual Pass increases from $50.00 to $60.00 per year
- Paratransit 10-Ride Card increases from $2.50 to $2.75 per trip
The following planning and zoning fees will increase in 2024:
- Zoning Amendment/Rezoning Fees – from $1,250.00 to $1,750.00.
- Municipal Plan/Zoning Fees – from $1,750.00 to $2,500.00
- Re-Approval of Subdivision - from $100.00 to $200.00
- Subdivision (2 lots or less) - from $100.00 to $250.00
- Subdivision (2+ lots) – from $250.00 + $25.00/lot to $250.00 + $50.00/lot
- Panel / Sandwich Board signage – from $75.00 to $100.00
- All other types of signage – from $100.00 to $125.00
Water & Sewer Utility
The 2024 Budget for the City of Fredericton Water & Sewer utility will be $23,440,904. The operating budget will be $12,581,487 with $10,859,417 being spent on capital projects.
The Utility is funded separately from the City’s general fund, deriving all its revenue from rates charged and funding received from other levels of government.
Water and sewer rates will go up in 2024. Effective with the second quarterly billing in 2024, the following will apply:
- the quarterly service charge will increase from $61.90 to $67.50 for each of water and sewer, plus a monthly meter rental charge.
- the commodity charge per cubic meter will increase from $0.97 to $1.00 for each of water and sewer, and
- the quarterly flat rate commodity charge will increase from $67.96 to $74.76 for each of water and sewer.
The typical Fredericton household will pay just $2.53 daily for safe, secure and reliable water along with environmentally sound wastewater treatment.
Additional Resources:
- Council adopts budget that supports residents living in a growing city (News Release, November 28, 2023)
- City provides $643,000 in community grants as part of Budget 2024 (News Release, November 29, 2023)
- Budget 2024 Infographic (PDF)
- Agenda - Regular Meeting of Fredericton City Council (November 27, 2023) – Item 11.2, 2024 Budget Resolutions.
- Budget Book 2024 (PDF)
Fredericton City Council has formally approved the City of Fredericton’s $152,881,318 operating budget for 2023.
The budget addresses inflationary needs being faced by the City, including increased gas and tender prices. It allows for core programs and services to continue and expand where necessary. There are investments in public safety, including a community safety unit, as well as affordable housing and environmental initiatives. The budget allows for a fully funded Capital program that will see road surfaces and underground pipes replaced in a timely fashion, all in support of a growing city.
Most current residential property owners will see a seven-cent decrease in their property tax rate, from $1.4086 to $1.3386 per $100 of assessment. The outside rate will remain at $1.0565.
New residents joining the city on January 1 will see a five-cent tax increase to reflect their increased level of municipal services, as allowed by the Province of New Brunswick. The following property tax rates apply:
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Saint Mary’s will increase from $0.4659 to $0.5159 per $100 of assessment.
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Douglas, Pepper Creek and Estey’s Bridge will increase from $0.5786 to $0.6286 per $100 of assessment.
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Lakeside Estates will increase from $0.5362 to $0.5862 per $100 of assessment.
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Lincoln will increase from $0.4542 to 0.5042 per $100 of assessment.
NOTE: All these areas will pay an additional tax rate of $0.4115 to the province for road maintenance. Some of the tax collected by the City will transfer back to the Province for garbage and recycling, as well as RCMP contract.
In addition, the budget earmarks $26,891,849 for Capital projects in 2023 and makes $643,000 available in strategic partner and community grants. There will be slight increases in sidewalk patios permits and parking fees.
Water & Sewer Utility
No rate increases will occur for the separately funded City of Fredericton Water & Sewer Utility budget. The combined Water & Sewer Rate for 2023 will remain at $1.94/m3, while the Quarterly Service Charge will remain at $123.80. The Utility, whose operating budget will be $23,671,040, will spend $11,820,935 on Capital projects in 2023.
Additional Resources:
Fredericton City Council has approved the City’s 2022 Budget, which resets Fredericton’s budget baseline to better deliver municipal operations and reduces the property tax rate.
The $135.1 million budget will allow the City to deliver the same service level, cover inflationary costs and wage increases, address structural gaps created over the past few years, adjust budget lines to reflect a growing city, fully fund its Capital budget, and mitigate impacts resulting from COVID-19 forecasts.
The City will also reduce the tax rate by 2.25 cents. As a result, the 2022 inside tax rate will drop from $1.4311 per $100 assessment to $1.4086. The outside rate will be lowered from $1.0733 per $100 assessment to $1.0565.
Water and Sewer Utility Budget
There continued to be a significant reduction in water consumption in Fredericton in 2021. This has created a shortfall of revenue for the Utility in 2022. As a result, and with expenses continuing to rise, the City’s Water & Utility will continue to follow its Long-Term Financial Plan and raise water & sewer rates.
Effective with the second quarter billing in 2022, the combined water and sewer rate will rise from $1.86/m3 to $1.94/m3. The quarterly service charge will raise from $117.20 to $123.80.
The average house in Fredericton pays $2.39 daily for safe, secure and reliable water, as well as environmentally sound treatment of wastewater. The budget changes mean the average household will pay $31.50 more annually for water & sewer services starting in 2022.
The total Water & Sewer Budget is $23,182,932 with $11,719,193 going towards Capital projects. As per provincial legislation, Fredericton’s water and sewer utility is self-funded, deriving all its revenue from rates charged and government infrastructure grants.
Additional Resources:
No tax rate increase in City’s 2021 Budget
Despite COVID-19, City able to deliver balanced budget with no service cuts
Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, Fredericton City Council has approved a $125.1 million budget that continues to support municipal programs and invest in key infrastructure projects, without increasing the tax rate and only five small recreation and parking fee increases.
As in 2020, the inside tax rate will stay at $1.4311 per $100 assessment. The outside tax rate remains at $1.0733.
Continuing with the City’s five-year rate strategy to bring Fredericton’s fees in line with other New Brunswick municipalities, small fee increases will occur to one recreation and four monthly parking fees.
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Royals Field Cost per Game – increase from $43.20 to $52.84 effective January 1, 2021
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Frederick Square Garage Monthly Permit Fee – increase from $100 to $120 effective February 1, 2021
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East End Garage Monthly Permit Fee – increase from $120 to $130 effective February 1, 2021
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York Parking Lot Monthly Permit Fee – increase from $115 to $120 effective February 1, 2021
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Officers’ Square Parking Lot – increase from $115 to $120 effective February 1, 2021
$17.1 million is earmarked for capital projects investments in 2021. $803,500 will be provided in grants to community groups in 2021.
Water & Sewer Utility
With water consumption up in Fredericton in 2020, the City’s Water & Sewer Utility has set aside its ongoing rate strategy and recommended that water & sewer rates not increase in 2021. Rates for 2021 will remain at $117.20 for the quarterly service charge and a usage fee of $1.86/m3. As per provincial legislation, Fredericton’s water and sewer utility is self-funded, deriving all its revenue from rates charged and government infrastructure grants. The total Water & Sewer Budget is $22.3M, with $11.5M going towards Capital projects.
Additional Resources:
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No tax rate increase in City’s 2021 Budget (News Release, 23-Nov-20)
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City provides $803,500 in community grants as part of Budget 2021 (News Release, 23-Nov-20)
Annual Reports
The City of Fredericton is committed to keeping Council and its citizens well-informed of the city’s financial position and financial activity. To ensure transparency and accuracy, the city’s financial statements are audited by an external independent accounting firm every year.
While the City of Fredericton's audited financial statements are included in our Annual Reports, the past three years of the statements are also listed below.