Approved 2026 Budget Summary

Approved Operating Budget

The approved Municipal Operating Budget of $230 million with a tax levy of $152 million results in an average property tax increase of $29 per year, per $100,000 assessed property value, or 3.9 per cent. This increase supports the City’s commitment to delivering services and programs to residents while responding to community growth. 

Blue House and Clouds

$29 (3.9%) tax increase per $100,000 assessed value of a St. Albert home.
Note: percentage shown has been rounded to the nearest decimal point.

The actual tax rate will not be finalized until May 2026, after the assessment roll is completed. 

Tax Dollars at Work

The operating budget funds services such as snow removal, trail maintenance, transit, and recreation programs for residents. The annual budget is built to maintain those services at Council-approved service levels. Efforts are also made to continue to optimize service delivery to ensure community needs are met.

Approved Distribution of Tax Dollars to Various Service Categories

Residents will pay an average of $890 per $100,000 in assessed value on their property tax bill, or an increase of $29 for 2026. The distribution of tax dollars to various service categories is illustrated below.

Pie Chart of Tax Dollars 2026

The chart above excludes Provincial Education Levy, Homeland Housing Levy and utility charges.

Public Operations: $147

Library: $27

Fire Services: $117

Family & Community Support Services: $11

Recreation & Parks: $43

Transit Services: $77

Environmental Sustainability: $7

Arts & Heritage: $12

General Government: $170

Corporate Financing: $89

Culture Services: $19

Police Services: $114

Planning & Engineering Services: $57

TOTAL = $890

Approved Municipal Capital Budget

The capital budget provides for investments in infrastructure and capital assets such as constructing, buying, or maintaining assets, including roads, sidewalks, buildings, vehicles, equipment, and land. This portion of the budget is important for critical maintenance of existing infrastructure and the future growth of our city.

For 2026, the municipal capital plan investment by asset category is illustrated below:

Civic Facilities: $10.4 M

Historical/Cultural: $0.3 M

Parks & Trails: $2.4 M

Roads & Other Engineered Structures: $18.1 M

Land & Land Improvements: $0.0 M

Master Plan, Studies & Other: $1.5 M

Mobile & Other Equipment: $14.2 M

38 Projects
Total: $46.9 M

Approved Utility Budget

Utility Rate

The utility rates fund the operating and capital costs for water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste programs that support St. Albert’s ability to provide clean, safe drinking water to its residents, as well as protect the natural environment through wastewater treatment, stormwater and solid waste management.

Green House and Clouds

$11.38 (7.0%) rate increase based on the typical monthly household utility bill ($174.89).

Distribution of Utility Bill

The typical monthly bill for 2026 is $174.89, an increase of 7.0 per cent from the prior year. This is based on a single family residence using 16 m3 (water, wastewater and stormwater) and 240L container option for solid waste. The allocations of monthly rates are as follows:

Solid Waste: $27.72