Population
7,190
Land Area
2,599
haAnnual Operating Budget
$22.6M
expensesTrends and Profile
Merritt 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
68.4
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 68.4 is above the band average of 50.0, placing this municipality among improving peers.
Fiscal Balance
$4,000
/ personOperating surplus of $4,000/person is 5.9× the band average of $675. Ranks 2nd of 91 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,881
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,881 is 12% below the band average of $2,145, ranking 61st of 91 in the band.
Debt Load
25.0%
capacity usedAt 25.0% of liability capacity used, borrowing room is more constrained than 14 of 91 peers in the band.
Revenue Resilience
42.5%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 42.5% is above the band average of 16.8%. More reliant on transfers than typical peers.
Service Efficiency
$3,146
/ personTotal spending of $3,146/person is $388 below the band average, ranking 46th 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 $5,064/year — 92% 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 $5,064/year — 92% above the band average of $2,635.
Learn more ↗$5,064 / 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 $5,064/year — 92% above the band average of $2,635.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
79.6% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 68.9%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
79.6% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 68.9%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Learn more ↗79.6%
Share of assessed property value from residential
79.6% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 68.9%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population declined 2.7% over 5 years. Band average: 4.9%. Declining population can increase per-capita service costs.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population declined 2.7% over 5 years. Band average: 4.9%. Declining population can increase per-capita service costs.
Learn more ↗-2.7%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population declined 2.7% over 5 years. Band average: 4.9%. Declining population can increase per-capita service costs.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$11,826 in building permits per person — 3.0× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Based on 10 months of data
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 10 months of data
$11,826 in building permits per person — 3.0× the band average. Signals strong development activity and future tax base growth.
Learn more ↗$11,826 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 10 months of data
$11,826 in building permits per person — 3.0× 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% |