For Immediate Release / October 22, 2024
Proposed 2025-27 Financial Plan & 2025 Budget Presented to Council
At the October 22, 2024, Council Meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Willian Fletcher presented Council with the Proposed 2025-27 Financial Plan and 2025 Budget.
The proposed 2025 budget continues to focus on maintaining high standards for the delivery of programs and services to residents, businesses and community stakeholders while setting conditions for future growth, community well-being and economic prosperity.
St. Albert continues to grow and is now home to 72,316 residents, and we are responding to the challenges and opportunities as we face increased operational costs due to inflation and reduced government grant funding like other municipalities across Canada. In response, our planning and budget focus on operational improvements, managing resources and corporate risks effectively while balancing increased costs and required investments for a sustainable future.
“The delivery of the valued programs and services that residents rely on continues to be the focus of the budget while we also plan for future growth,” says Mayor Cathy Heron. “The budget reflects the need to balance stimulating economic growth, creating more employment and business opportunities, ensuring the well-being of our residents and monitoring the impacts of inflation.”
Proposed 2025 budget highlights include:
- The proposed 2025 Municipal Operating Budget has an an operating budget of $216.2 million with an updated tax levy of $142.2 million with an average property tax increase of 4.0 per cent or an increase of $34 per year per $100,000 assessed value. The proposed 2025 Budget document shows a tax increase of 4.5% as it does not reflect Council’s recent approval to increase in the Gas Franchise Fee rate for 2025 which results in additional revenue for the City and a lower tax levy.
- The proposed 2025 Municipal Capital Budget of $55.7 million includes 26 capital charters (requests for funding) focusing on repairing, maintaining and/or replacing existing municipal infrastructure, and nine capital charters that address community growth.
- The proposed 2025 Utility Operating Budget is $54.6 million. The proposed monthly utility bill will yield an average increase of 7.2 per cent or a change of $11.27 per month compared to last year.
- The proposed 2025 Utility Capital Budget of $15.2 million includes eight capital projects, focusing on repairing, maintaining and/or replacing existing utility infrastructure and one capital charter that addresses community growth.
In developing the proposed financial plan and budget, Administration was guided by Council-approved services and service levels, Council’s Strategic Plan, the Corporate Business Plan, and community feedback. These plans are forward-thinking and priority driven, which ensures that we are planning for the future, while delivering essential programs and efficient, effective services to the community today.
Have Your Say! Residents are invited to take a short survey and provide their feedback on the proposed 2025 budget from Oct. 22 to Nov. 6 at conversation.stalbert.ca. For more information on the 2025-27 Financial Plan and 2025 Budget and Budget Overview video, visit the City of St. Albert’s website at stalbert.ca/budget-2025.
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Last edited: October 23, 2024