Population
19,671
Land Area
1,949
haAnnual Operating Budget
$54.3M
expensesTrends and Profile
Port Alberni 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
9.4
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 9.3 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.
Fiscal Balance
$239
/ personOperating surplus of $239/person is 0.4× the band average of $624. Ranks 40th of 48 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,573
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,573 is 4% below the band average of $1,639, ranking 31st of 48 in the band.
Debt Load
12.0%
capacity usedLiability capacity used is 12.0%, near the band average of 15.0%. Ranking 20th of 48 in the band.
Revenue Resilience
12.0%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 12.0% is below the band average of 12.2%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.
Service Efficiency
$2,759
/ personTotal spending of $2,759/person is $141 below the band average, ranking 31st of 48 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 $5,255/year — 72% below the band average of $19,046.
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 $5,255/year — 72% below the band average of $19,046.
Learn more ↗$5,255 / 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 $5,255/year — 72% below the band average of $19,046.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
87.3% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 81.2%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
87.3% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 81.2%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Learn more ↗87.3%
Share of assessed property value from residential
87.3% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 81.2%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 4.8% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 4.8% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗+4.8%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 4.8% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Development Activity
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
$1,890 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Based on 11 months of data
Learn more ↗Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 11 months of data
$1,890 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Learn more ↗$1,890 / cap
Building permit value per capita (trailing 12 months)
Based on 11 months of data
$1,890 in building permits per person, below the band average of $3,872.
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 26 municipalities in the 15,000-50,000 band.
| Municipality | Type | Population▼ | Rev/Cap | Exp/Cap | Surplus/Cap | Debt/Cap | Tax Bill | Tax Coll. % | Liab. Used % | 5yr Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vernon | C | 49,527 | $2,382 | $2,161 | $221 | $749 | $5,031 | 99.2% | 3.1% | +9.2% |
| West Vancouver | D | 47,929 | $4,973 | $4,458 | $515 | $511 | $12,023 | 99.1% | 3.5% | +6.2% |
| Mission | C | 47,280 | $2,726 | $2,064 | $663 | $268 | $6,372 | 96.2% | 5.5% | +10.2% |
| West Kelowna | C | 40,274 | $2,242 | $2,235 | $7 | $1,191 | $7,066 | 95.0% | 22.4% | +9.5% |
| Penticton | C | 39,068 | $4,152 | $3,727 | $425 | $547 | $5,870 | 99.1% | 11.9% | +3.5% |
| Campbell River | C | 38,300 | $2,649 | $2,219 | $430 | $209 | $6,019 | 98.6% | 4.9% | +5.3% |
| Port Moody | C | 38,285 | $3,044 | $2,509 | $535 | $587 | $7,472 | 98.6% | 8.2% | +9.6% |
| Langley | C | 35,444 | $2,455 | $1,837 | $618 | $611 | $5,017 | 98.5% | 4.1% | +20.1% |
| North Cowichan | D | 34,525 | $2,317 | $2,014 | $303 | $915 | $5,679 | 98.2% | 23.8% | +5.8% |
| Courtenay | C | 32,869 | $2,397 | $2,115 | $282 | $587 | $5,915 | 98.3% | 11.0% | +13.7% |
| Squamish | D | 28,578 | $5,028 | $2,770 | $2,258 | $1,428 | $7,205 | 98.4% | 26.5% | +20.9% |
| White Rock | C | 25,057 | $2,937 | $2,222 | $715 | $783 | $6,686 | 95.2% | 7.9% | +12.7% |
| Fort St. John | C | 24,383 | $4,326 | $3,302 | $1,024 | $1,448 | $3,590 | 94.5% | 15.7% | +8.1% |
| Colwood | C | 22,794 | $2,132 | $1,501 | $631 | $474 | $5,519 | 98.7% | 11.2% | +17.9% |
| Cranbrook | C | 22,703 | $3,081 | $2,660 | $421 | $1,170 | $5,546 | 97.6% | 23.9% | +6.2% |
| Pitt Meadows | C | 20,892 | $2,865 | $2,382 | $483 | $1,062 | $6,971 | 98.7% | 12.4% | +5.1% |
| Salmon Arm | C | 20,891 | $2,249 | $1,937 | $311 | $954 | $5,116 | 98.8% | 24.8% | +6.3% |
| Port Alberni | C | 19,671 | $2,999 | $2,759 | $239 | $1,033 | $5,255 | 96.7% | 12.0% | +4.8% |
| Esquimalt | D | 19,512 | $2,624 | $2,379 | $245 | $1,704 | $5,793 | 98.0% | 19.0% | +5.4% |
| Oak Bay | D | 18,626 | $3,642 | $3,021 | $621 | $0 | $10,935 | 99.7% | 0.0% | +0.9% |
| Central Saanich | D | 18,184 | $2,537 | $1,846 | $691 | $357 | $6,857 | 99.4% | 6.5% | +0.9% |
| Lake Country | D | 17,637 | $2,723 | $2,225 | $498 | $962 | $6,594 | 99.0% | 19.1% | +10.8% |
| Sooke | D | 17,248 | $1,731 | $1,279 | $452 | $128 | $5,507 | 97.2% | 14.0% | +13.2% |
| Comox | T | 15,884 | $2,687 | $1,909 | $778 | $191 | $5,953 | 98.8% | 8.4% | +4.7% |
| Parksville | C | 15,371 | $2,508 | $2,204 | $304 | $305 | $6,131 | 98.8% | 4.0% | +13.4% |
| Whistler | D | 15,090 | $9,738 | $8,531 | $1,207 | $4,103 | $5,768 | 98.4% | 14.9% | -2.3% |