Population
5,627
Land Area
1,583
haAnnual Operating Budget
$20.4M
expensesTrends and Profile
Smithers 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
46.5
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 46.5 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.
Fiscal Balance
$1,878
/ personOperating surplus of $1,878/person is 2.8× the band average of $675. Ranks 9th of 91 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,826
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,826 is 15% below the band average of $2,145, ranking 58th of 91 in the band.
Debt Load
7.6%
capacity usedLiability servicing capacity used is 7.6%, leaving significant room for strategic borrowing if needed.
Revenue Resilience
33.6%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 33.6% is above the band average of 16.8%. More reliant on transfers than typical peers.
Service Efficiency
$3,626
/ personTotal spending of $3,626/person is $92 above the band average of $3,534, ranking 65th of 91 in the band.
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 $5,222/year — 98% 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 $5,222/year — 98% above the band average of $2,635.
Learn more ↗$5,222 / 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 $5,222/year — 98% above the band average of $2,635.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
78.1% 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
78.1% of the tax base is residential, above the band average of 68.9%. Less diversified than typical peers.
Learn more ↗78.1%
Share of assessed property value from residential
78.1% 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 grew 0.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 0.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.
Learn more ↗+0.1%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 0.1% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.
Development Activity
Building permit data not available
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% |