As municipalities across the province prepare to deliver their 2026 budgets, The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is calling for a reduction in the gap between taxes for residential and commercial properties.

The CFIB’s director of legislative affairs for NL, Jonathan Galgay, says the tax gap is “substantial” across the province, with businesses in some communities paying double the residential rate.

While many communities are just weeks away from tabling their budgets, Galgay says it is not too late for changes to be implemented.

He says because of this year’s municipal elections, the deadline for budgets to be submitted to the province has been extended.

Galgay has heard from some elected officials that their budget deliberations only started within the last few weeks, so there is time for changes to be made.

The CFIB is also asking for red tape to be cut by streamlining permitting processes, and for municipalities to adopt financial responsibility measures.