Budget 2027-2028

The City of Charlottetown is beginning its 2027–2028 budget planning process, which will help guide spending priorities and investments in City programs, services and infrastructure over the coming year.

As part of this process, the City is seeking input from residents to better understand community needs and priorities. Your feedback will help inform Council's decisions as it works to balance community needs, responsible financial management and long-term sustainability.

Have your say! Take a few minutes to complete the survey below and share what matters most to you. Your input is an important part of shaping the City's budget and future priorities.

Budget 101

A municipal budget is a summary of the money coming in and being spent by a municipality in a specific period of time, referred to as a fiscal period. It is a comprehensive guide for making financial and operational decisions.

The City’s expenditures, or what it spends money on, is divided into operational and capital:

The operational budget is the financial plan that outlines the day-to-day expenses and revenue projections for running the municipality over a specific period, typically a fiscal year. It covers ongoing operational costs such as employee salaries, utilities, maintenance, public safety, administrative expenses, and other routine expenditures required to deliver services to residents. Revenue sources usually include property taxes, user fees, grants, and other forms of income generated by the municipality.

The capital budget is a financial plan that focuses on long-term investments in infrastructure, facilities, and other major projects that enhance or expand the municipality's physical assets. It typically covers large-scale projects with significant costs and longer lifespans, such as building new roads, storm water management, bridges, parks, sewer systems, or upgrading existing infrastructure. Funding often comes from sources like short and long-term borrowing, government grants, special levies, and reserve funds.

Provincial legislation states that expenses cannot be greater than the money coming into the City. That means the City cannot plan to spend more than what it expects to collect through taxes and other sources – the City cannot run a deficit.

The City of Charlottetown is beginning its 2027–2028 budget planning process, which will help guide spending priorities and investments in City programs, services and infrastructure over the coming year.

As part of this process, the City is seeking input from residents to better understand community needs and priorities. Your feedback will help inform Council's decisions as it works to balance community needs, responsible financial management and long-term sustainability.

Have your say! Take a few minutes to complete the survey below and share what matters most to you. Your input is an important part of shaping the City's budget and future priorities.

Budget 101

A municipal budget is a summary of the money coming in and being spent by a municipality in a specific period of time, referred to as a fiscal period. It is a comprehensive guide for making financial and operational decisions.

The City’s expenditures, or what it spends money on, is divided into operational and capital:

The operational budget is the financial plan that outlines the day-to-day expenses and revenue projections for running the municipality over a specific period, typically a fiscal year. It covers ongoing operational costs such as employee salaries, utilities, maintenance, public safety, administrative expenses, and other routine expenditures required to deliver services to residents. Revenue sources usually include property taxes, user fees, grants, and other forms of income generated by the municipality.

The capital budget is a financial plan that focuses on long-term investments in infrastructure, facilities, and other major projects that enhance or expand the municipality's physical assets. It typically covers large-scale projects with significant costs and longer lifespans, such as building new roads, storm water management, bridges, parks, sewer systems, or upgrading existing infrastructure. Funding often comes from sources like short and long-term borrowing, government grants, special levies, and reserve funds.

Provincial legislation states that expenses cannot be greater than the money coming into the City. That means the City cannot plan to spend more than what it expects to collect through taxes and other sources – the City cannot run a deficit.

Page last updated: 05 Nov 2026, 08:38 AM