Councils across the Edmonton region have been hearing about the challenge of maintaining existing services in an environment of high inflation as they review and start approving their 2023 budgets.
Though final property tax rates will be set early next year, all municipalities must approve their 2023 budgets by Dec. 31, 2022.
Approved budgets for 2023, with an average tax increase of 4.46%, include:
- Leduc County council approved its 2023 budget with a 3% tax increase.
- Parkland County council approved its 2023 budget with a 2.78% tax increase. "We are proud to approve the 2023 budget, which includes investments of over $50 million in strategic areas to attract investors, promote tourism, and improve quality of life for our residents," said Mayor Allan Gamble.
- Stony Plain's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a tax increase of 4.84%, but that increased to 7.47% on Nov. 8 after council approved several additional funding requests. Council approved the amended budget on Nov. 28.
- Strathcona County council approved its 2023 budget with a 4.6% tax increase, down from the originally proposed 5.5% increase.
Proposed budgets for 2023, with average tax increase of 5.7%, include:
- Beaumont's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a tax increase of 7.4%. Council is expected to approve the budget on Dec. 13.
- Devon's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a tax increase of 4.19%. Council is expected to approve the budget on Dec. 5.
- Edmonton's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a tax increase of 3.9%. Council is expected to approve the budget by Dec. 16.
- Fort Saskatchewan's proposed 2023 budget was amended by council on Nov. 24 and is expected to receive final approval on Dec. 13.
- The City of Leduc's proposed 2023 budget forecasts a tax increase of 4.17%, about 2.97% of which is due to inflation, according to administration. Council is expected to approve the budget on Dec. 12.
- Morinville's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a 10% tax increase, which town councillors were quick to reject. While Coun. Ray White has called for a 4% tax increase, subsequent options put forward by administration ranged from 6% to 10%. Council is expected to approve the budget on Dec. 6.
- Spruce Grove's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a tax increase of 4.9%. Council is expected to approve the budget on Dec. 5.
- St. Albert's proposed 2023 budget originally forecast a tax increase of 4.6%, but following the approval of the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission (EMTSC)'s 2023 operating budget, that increased to 5.8%. Council is expected to approve the budget by Dec. 19.
- Sturgeon County council has trimmed the tax increase for its 2023 budget to 3.9%, down from the 6.5% initially proposed. Council is expected to approve the budget on Dec. 13.