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Village Pop Band: Under 1,500

Sayward

Strathcona (STR)

Population

329

Land Area

489

ha

Annual Operating Budget

$2.0M

expenses

Sayward 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

329+2.8% 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 ↗
Bottom of Band

39.1

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

Fiscal trajectory score of 39.1 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.

Rank 142/191 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 ↗
Bottom of Band

-$455

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

Operating balance of -$455/person compares to a band average of $1,187. Ranking 174th of 193 in the band.

Rank 174/193 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 ↗
Mid-Band

$1,494

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

Per-person taxation of $1,494 is 16% below the band average of $1,770, ranking 117th of 193 in the band.

Rank 117/193 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 ↗
Mid-Band

5.8%

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

Liability capacity used is 5.8%, near the band average of 8.4%. Ranking 112th of 193 in the band.

Rank 112/193 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 ↗
Mid-Band

37.7%

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

Grant dependency of 37.7% is above the band average of 33.0%. More reliant on transfers than typical peers.

Rank 125/193 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 ↗
Bottom of Band

$6,110

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

Total spending of $6,110/person is $1,872 above the band average of $4,238, ranking 171st of 193 in the band.

Rank 171/193 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 $4,234/year — 73% 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 ↗

$4,234 / yr

$330 Band Min
$41,509 Band Max
Band Avg: $2,450
BC Avg: $4,403
173rd of 191 in band
Mid-Band

Residential Tax Base

Share of assessed property value from residential

91.4% of the tax base is residential — homeowners carry nearly all of the tax burden. Band average: 84.7%.

Learn more ↗

91.4%

7.4% Band Min
99.9% Band Max
Band Avg: 84.7%
BC Avg: 77.1%
113th of 192 in band
Bottom of Band

Population Growth

Change over 5 years (2020–2025)

Population declined 10.1% over 5 years. Band average: 20.8%. Declining population can increase per-capita service costs.

Learn more ↗

-10.1%

-32.3% Band Min
$183 Band Max
Band Avg: 20.8%
BC Avg: 12.6%
174th 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%