Population
7,086
Land Area
1,486
haAnnual Operating Budget
$22.0M
expensesTrends and Profile
Fernie Population Trend
Annual estimates, 2011–2025
Fiscal Trends (2021–2024)
Revenue and expense per person over 4 years
Fiscal Report Card
These metrics reflect reported financial data and do not capture local context such as major infrastructure investments, one-time grants, natural disasters, or policy decisions. Learn more
Fiscal Trajectory
39.2
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 39.2 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.
Fiscal Balance
$350
/ personOperating surplus of $350/person is 0.5× the band average of $675. Ranks 58th of 91 in the band.
Tax Burden
$2,127
/ personPer-person taxation of $2,127 is 1% below the band average of $2,145, ranking 67th of 91 in the band.
Debt Load
15.2%
capacity usedLiability capacity used is 15.2%, near the band average of 14.9%. Ranking 49th of 91 in the band.
Revenue Resilience
10.7%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 10.7% is below the band average of 16.8%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.
Service Efficiency
$3,109
/ personTotal spending of $3,109/person is $425 below the band average, ranking 44th of 91 for service efficiency.
What's Driving These Numbers
Tax Revenue by Property Class
How the annual municipal tax levy is split across property classes. A higher residential share means homeowners carry more of the tax burden.
Share of total municipal tax levy by property class
Annual Homeowner Cost
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
A typical homeowner pays $6,848/year — 160% above the band average of $2,635.
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
Learn more ↗Estimated taxes on a median-value home
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
A typical homeowner pays $6,848/year — 160% above the band average of $2,635.
Learn more ↗$6,848 / yr
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
A typical homeowner pays $6,848/year — 160% above the band average of $2,635.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
91.3% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 68.9%.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
91.3% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 68.9%.
Learn more ↗91.3%
Share of assessed property value from residential
91.3% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 68.9%.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 9.9% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 9.9% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.
Learn more ↗+9.9%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 9.9% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$9,796 in building permits per person — 2.5× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$9,796 in building permits per person — 2.5× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Learn more ↗$9,796 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$9,796 in building permits per person — 2.5× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 33 municipalities in the 5,000-15,000 band.
| Municipality | Type | Population▼ | Rev/Cap | Exp/Cap | Surplus/Cap | Debt/Cap | Tax Bill | Tax Coll. % | Liab. Used % | 5yr Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powell River | C | 14,947 | $3,783 | $3,034 | $749 | $2,200 | $5,985 | 97.6% | 24.7% | +5.0% |
| Terrace | C | 13,648 | $3,415 | $2,527 | $888 | $249 | $4,716 | 98.4% | 5.7% | +8.9% |
| Dawson Creek | C | 13,635 | $5,216 | $3,876 | $1,340 | $1,320 | $5,301 | 96.3% | 25.3% | +4.1% |
| Sidney | T | 13,445 | $2,362 | $2,089 | $273 | $785 | $5,396 | 99.4% | 9.1% | +7.3% |
| North Saanich | D | 12,986 | $2,156 | $1,915 | $242 | $304 | $6,141 | 98.7% | 10.2% | +6.0% |
| Prince Rupert | C | 12,903 | $6,123 | $4,170 | $1,953 | $3,677 | $5,399 | 97.4% | 24.9% | +0.8% |
| View Royal | T | 12,795 | $2,046 | $1,681 | $365 | $288 | $5,183 | 99.2% | 10.1% | +7.7% |
| Summerland | D | 12,343 | $4,117 | $3,236 | $881 | $1,224 | $6,047 | 99.4% | 17.3% | +0.7% |
| Nelson | C | 12,126 | $5,374 | $4,482 | $892 | $411 | $6,197 | 98.9% | 7.3% | +5.1% |
| Sechelt | D | 11,558 | $2,426 | $2,071 | $355 | $392 | $7,343 | 96.9% | 16.5% | +4.4% |
| Williams Lake | C | 11,462 | $3,633 | $2,927 | $707 | $419 | $4,754 | 97.5% | 10.6% | +1.2% |
| Coldstream | D | 11,380 | $1,309 | $1,247 | $61 | $1,013 | $7,019 | 98.8% | 15.7% | -0.3% |
| Quesnel | C | 10,253 | $3,615 | $3,286 | $329 | $1,176 | $4,153 | 97.3% | 21.8% | -1.0% |
| Ladysmith | T | 9,926 | $2,638 | $2,193 | $445 | $1,559 | $6,310 | 98.3% | 24.6% | +8.3% |
| Qualicum Beach | T | 9,640 | $2,972 | $2,148 | $825 | $279 | $7,242 | 99.0% | 22.9% | +3.4% |
| Castlegar | C | 9,465 | $3,001 | $2,759 | $241 | $1,661 | $4,624 | 98.5% | 14.5% | +10.0% |
| Revelstoke | C | 9,464 | $4,782 | $3,385 | $1,397 | $1,014 | $5,839 | 97.2% | 26.9% | +9.0% |
| Kimberley | C | 9,037 | $3,432 | $2,531 | $902 | $505 | $6,051 | 98.4% | 11.0% | +9.6% |
| Trail | C | 8,539 | $3,595 | $2,998 | $597 | $1,450 | $4,402 | 98.6% | 28.3% | +3.4% |
| Merritt | C | 7,190 | $7,146 | $3,146 | $4,000 | $1,954 | $5,064 | 97.2% | 25.0% | -2.7% |
| Hope | D | 7,183 | $2,754 | $2,831 | -$77 | $396 | $4,642 | 98.2% | 7.2% | +6.5% |
| Kent | D | 7,093 | $3,162 | $2,031 | $1,131 | $123 | $4,492 | 98.6% | 2.6% | +7.2% |
| Fernie | C | 7,086 | $3,460 | $3,109 | $350 | $362 | $6,848 | 98.2% | 15.2% | +9.9% |
| Peachland | D | 6,302 | $2,691 | $2,420 | $272 | $1,550 | $6,413 | 95.6% | 33.2% | +7.9% |
| Creston | T | 5,976 | $2,880 | $2,419 | $461 | $803 | $5,066 | 98.8% | 12.5% | +4.6% |
| Spallumcheen | D | 5,843 | $2,382 | $1,759 | $623 | $70 | $5,272 | 97.2% | 1.4% | +7.6% |
| Duncan | C | 5,745 | $2,993 | $2,361 | $631 | $0 | $4,879 | 98.5% | 0.0% | +9.1% |
| Osoyoos | T | 5,724 | $4,471 | $2,883 | $1,589 | $1,838 | $5,541 | 97.4% | 16.2% | +2.1% |
| Armstrong | C | 5,643 | $1,970 | $1,597 | $373 | $793 | $4,271 | 99.0% | 14.1% | +4.1% |
| Smithers | T | 5,627 | $5,504 | $3,626 | $1,878 | $488 | $5,222 | 98.4% | 7.6% | +0.1% |
| Oliver | T | 5,262 | $3,112 | $2,600 | $512 | $1,413 | $4,716 | 98.5% | 27.8% | -0.2% |
| Metchosin | D | 5,207 | $1,875 | $1,484 | $391 | $0 | $4,868 | 99.2% | 0.0% | +0.1% |
| Gibsons | T | 5,090 | $3,350 | $2,776 | $574 | $1,821 | $6,724 | 98.1% | 29.4% | +4.4% |