Alberta Municipalities say 2024 infrastructure funding falls short

Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis) have crunched the numbers on last week’s budget, and say it’s discouraged by the amount of funding the province has set aside to tackle Alberta’s $30 billion infrastructure deficit.

The group says the $722 million allocated to the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) falls far short in addressing infrastructure needs.

In a statement issued last week, the organization, which represents 260 Alberta municipalities, says the province’s population growth in the last few years has been remarkable and put significant strain on existing community infrastructure, like roads, bridges, water and wastewater treatment facilities, energy infrastructure, schools, recreation facilities, and hospitals.

The reality is that Alberta’s community infrastructure will continue to deteriorate, and new infrastructure will be needed. With the province’s choice to underfund LGFF Capital, the province is passing the tax burden onto property owners through significant property tax… pic.twitter.com/ts8pJaOFSh

— Alberta Municipalities | Strength in Members (@ABmunis) March 4, 2024

ABMunis says a long-range strategic plan for infrastructure (complete with funding) is critical to addressing the challenge, and needs to be completed with input from municipalities.

The province had a chance in this year’s budget to allocate more cash to the LGFF and start tackling the province’s infrastructure problems head-on, the organization says.

But, it didn’t, and by not increasing LGFF capital funding and increasing provincial education property taxes by $230 million — up more than nine per cent — ABMunis says the province is “double-downloading” the tax burden onto municipal governments and property owners.

Despite this disappointment, the organization says it is pleased to see the province is taking action on the threats of widespread drought ands wildfires seriously, and is increasing funding.