How is a potential property tax hike sitting with Edmontonians?

With an $88 million hole in the budget, Edmonton City Council could be mulling a double-digit property tax increase or see services cut to make up. One city councillor says the province needs to step up.

“There’s a lot in that number and a lot to unpack. 13 per cent is a shock for all of us, and I know our administration over the past years has been trying to find ways to whittle things down and keep property taxes low during the pandemic, and now we’re paying the price,” said Jo-Anne Wright, councillor of Ward Sspomitapi.

With Edmonton homeowners already contending with an 8.9 per cent property tax increase this year, it could be going even higher next year, as high as 13 per cent if nothing is cut.

Councillor Wright says a lot of this budget pressure could be alleviated by the province.

“Unless the province steps in and provides the funding that’s needed for things like infrastructure, payment their property taxes that our owing, for taking over some of those social programs that they’ve neglected for so many years. Otherwise that is going to come down to the property tax payer.”

In response to councillor Wright, Alberta’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs said in a statement they continue to engage with the City of Edmonton on grants and funding.

Adding in part “Alberta’s government continues to provide stable, predictable funding to the City of Edmonton and support for numerous capital projects, with alberta infrastructure providing $800 million over the next three years in budget 2024 for health, school, and government facilities.”

Council will begin budget discussions in earnest this fall.