Edmonton’s city councillors will have to vote to raise property taxes just to maintain the current level of city services — the good news is — it’s not the 13 per cent hike that was floated earlier.
“We are recommending an 8.1 per cent property tax increase in 2025. This means that next year, Edmonton property owners will pay $62 for every $100,000 in assessed property value,” said Stacey Padbury, the chief financial officer of the City of Edmonton.
That would also include a 7.3 per cent increase in 2026. The City’s top financial expert told media Thursday as Edmonton’s population grows and inflation costs more and more just to maintain what the city has.
Not only has the administration been recommending a property tax increase, but a reduction in some City programs and corporate expenditures. With no increases to Edmonton transit.
“We always look at what is the best way to deliver our services, how can we deliver those services in the most efficient manner?” asked Padbury.
City councillor Tim Cartmell says he doesn’t believe that’s the case.
“It’s consistently the same response from administration: all we can do is raise taxes or cut services. I just have not yet seen evidence that every single thing we can do to make sure that every single thing we do is being done efficiently, being done with a return on investment idea,” said Cartmell.
Edmonton’s mayor Amarjeet Sohi told CityNews in an email he’s pleased the property tax proposal isn’t as high as expected but added in part, “I will be working with my colleagues in the coming weeks to further reduce the tax levy.”
Council will debate budget adjustments next month.