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Village Pop Band: Under 1,500

Gold River

Strathcona (STR)

Population

1,339

Land Area

1,051

ha

Annual Operating Budget

$4.2M

expenses

Gold River Population Trend

Annual population estimates sourced from BC Stats / Alberta Municipal Affairs. Used as the denominator for all per-capita metrics on this page. Learn more ↗

Annual estimates, 2011–2025

1,339+4.7% since 2011

Fiscal Trends (2021–2024)

Total revenue and total operating expenses per resident over 4 fiscal years. Shows whether the municipality's fiscal position has been improving or declining. Learn more ↗

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

Composite score (0–10) measuring the 4-year trajectory of fiscal health across revenue growth, expense control, debt reduction, and operating surplus. Higher is better. Score is relative to all municipalities in your population band. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

44.4

score
14.4% Band Min
88.1% Band Max
Band Avg: 50.0%
BC Avg: 50.0%

Fiscal trajectory score of 44.4 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.

Rank 120/191 2021–2024 data
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Fiscal Balance

Operating surplus (revenues minus expenses) divided by population. Positive means the municipality took in more than it spent. Higher is better. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

$413

/ person
-$2,227 Band Min
$30,359 Band Max
Band Avg: $1,187
BC Avg: $930

Operating surplus of $413/person is 0.3× the band average of $1,187. Ranks 102nd of 193 in the band.

Rank 102/193 2024 data
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Tax Burden

Own-source taxation per resident — property taxes and other local levies set by the municipality. Lower is better (lighter burden on residents). Does not include provincial school taxes. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

$1,048

/ person
53.3% Band Min
$23,502 Band Max
Band Avg: $1,770
BC Avg: $2,010

Per-person taxation of $1,048 is 41% below the band average of $1,770, ranking 52nd of 193 in the band.

Rank 52/193 2024 data
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Debt Load

Annual debt payments as a percentage of the provincial statutory borrowing limit. Lower is better — more room for future infrastructure borrowing. 100% = at the legal ceiling. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

0.0%

capacity used
0.0% Band Min
76.5% Band Max
Band Avg: 8.4%
BC Avg: 11.9%

Liability servicing capacity used is 0.0%, leaving significant room for strategic borrowing if needed.

Rank 3/193 2024 data
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Revenue Resilience

Provincial and federal grants and transfers as a share of total revenue. Lower is better — the municipality is more financially self-sufficient. Note: high grant dependency may reflect dedicated capital programs, not fiscal weakness. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

19.7%

grant dependency
1.6% Band Min
87.8% Band Max
Band Avg: 33.0%
BC Avg: 23.6%

Grant dependency of 19.7% is below the band average of 33.0%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.

Rank 52/193 2024 data
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Service Efficiency

Total operating expenses per resident across all municipal services. Lower is better — delivering services at lower per-person cost. Smaller municipalities often have higher per-capita costs due to fixed overhead. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

$3,161

/ person
$451 Band Min
$34,664 Band Max
Band Avg: $4,238
BC Avg: $3,918

Total spending of $3,161/person is $1,077 below the band average, ranking 82nd of 193 for service efficiency.

Rank 82/193 2024 data
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What's Driving These Numbers

Tax Revenue by Property Class

Tax levy collected from each property class — how the tax burden is distributed across residential, commercial, industrial, and other property owners. Year coverage varies by data availability.

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
Bottom of Band

Annual Homeowner Cost

Estimated taxes on a median-value home

A typical homeowner pays $3,878/year — 58% above the band average of $2,450.

Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.

Learn more ↗

$3,878 / yr

$330 Band Min
$41,509 Band Max
Band Avg: $2,450
BC Avg: $4,403
168th of 191 in band
Mid-Band

Residential Tax Base

Share of assessed property value from residential

87.2% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 84.7%.

Learn more ↗

87.2%

7.4% Band Min
99.9% Band Max
Band Avg: 84.7%
BC Avg: 77.1%
95th of 192 in band
Top of Band

Population Growth

Change over 5 years (2020–2025)

Population grew 4.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 20.8%.

Learn more ↗

+4.1%

-32.3% Band Min
$183 Band Max
Band Avg: 20.8%
BC Avg: 12.6%
132nd of 182 in band

Development Activity

Building permit data not available

Revenue Breakdown / person

Per-capita revenue by source — how much each resident contributes through each funding stream. Own-Source Tax = municipal property taxes. Transfers = federal and provincial grants. Service Sales = utility and fee revenues.

Expense Breakdown / person

Per-capita operating expenses by municipal service category. Municipalities with water, sewer, or transit utilities will show higher totals.

Peer Comparison

Comparing against 34 municipalities in the Under 1,500 band.

MunicipalityTypePopulation▼Rev/CapExp/CapSurplus/CapDebt/CapTax BillTax Coll. %Liab. Used %5yr Growth
Radium Hot SpringsV1,489$4,643$3,149$1,495$2,053$3,49998.2%18.6%+18.6%
TaylorD1,415$8,582$7,229$1,353$2,505$3,24199.0%15.8%+0.1%
Lions BayV1,375$4,045$3,552$493$1,063$12,25196.3%21.2%-4.4%
Gold RiverV1,339$3,574$3,161$413$0$3,87898.0%0.0%+4.1%
SalmoV1,310$1,767$1,708$60$454$3,60197.0%9.4%+8.0%
KasloV1,141$3,305$2,722$583$0$4,67398.5%1.2%+7.2%
ValemountV1,082$5,973$4,769$1,204$278$4,21789.8%7.4%-1.2%
MontroseV1,072$2,278$1,509$769$125$4,78695.3%10.3%+2.6%
Cache CreekV1,053$5,908$3,142$2,766$0$4,26593.7%0.0%+4.8%
Hudson's HopeD1,019$8,553$7,252$1,301$0$2,17099.6%0.0%+1.2%
Daajing GiidsV999$2,857$2,840$17$512$4,16697.5%13.6%+4.1%
Fraser LakeV942$7,676$4,278$3,398$0$3,98297.5%0.0%-3.4%
MassetV914$11,155$8,862$2,293$2,648$3,80797.1%13.4%+6.0%
Canal FlatsV889$4,727$6,069-$1,342$3,079$3,36598.1%22.6%+10.6%
Pouce CoupeV813$6,562$3,746$2,815$0$3,93193.2%0.0%+1.5%
shíshálh Nation Government DistrictD792$3,137$2,208$929$5,119—96.1%5.6%—
Port AliceV789$3,328$3,472-$144$453$3,20789.0%4.2%+11.0%
ClintonV707$4,137$2,886$1,251$1,584$3,56797.2%11.9%+8.4%
BelcarraV702$4,618$3,614$1,004$4,008$11,22597.1%40.0%+2.3%
MidwayV671$5,044$3,480$1,565$17$2,91898.2%5.7%+1.1%
New HazeltonD666$5,945$4,087$1,858$0$3,48397.1%0.0%+7.9%
McBrideV646$4,906$4,571$335$341$3,80789.7%14.5%+4.2%
New DenverV527$4,779$3,296$1,483$284$3,07396.0%9.0%+6.7%
StewartD515$12,961$9,142$3,819$614$2,72997.8%14.7%+0.6%
SlocanV488$2,429$2,028$401$1,230$3,56290.2%55.0%+30.1%
Alert BayV465$5,825$4,575$1,250$142$3,48893.0%19.1%+9.7%
Port EdwardD442$12,274$9,366$2,907$1,105$3,52398.5%17.6%-8.1%
TahsisV418$12,450$8,157$4,293$0$3,60392.0%0.0%+6.9%
GranisleV357$15,018$8,602$6,416$316$3,30792.4%4.8%+5.6%
Port ClementsV352$8,192$3,750$4,442$0$2,27198.1%0.0%+0.6%
SaywardV329$5,655$6,110-$455$39$4,23493.8%5.8%-10.1%
LyttonV228$33,685$19,024$14,661$0$2,77398.7%0.0%+1.3%
SilvertonV196$5,818$5,655$163$0$3,795100.4%0.0%+4.3%
ZeballosV136$13,881$11,173$2,707$0$2,76885.6%2.1%+7.1%