This December, Council will set Edmonton's capital and operating budget for the next four years
The City's budget process is long and complicated. This page will act as a guide for residents of Ward Sspomitapi, to bring you along for the process of how the budget is made, when the key decision points will be, and how I will be incorporating the feedback I have heard from you into my decision making.
Capital Budget
The City's capital budget sets out what infrastructure and equipment Edmonton will invest in. This includes building new infrastructure like road expansions, fixing up existing infrastructure through programs like neighbourhood renewal, and replacing or buying new equipment like buses to serve new neighbourhoods.
Operating Budget
The City's operating budget sets out what services and programs Edmonton will provide. This budget includes filling pot holes, clearing snow and ice, maintaining parks and boulevards, funding fire fighters and police, and many more services that Edmontonians rely on every single day.
Edmonton's budgeting process
Department Presentations
March
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Budget Engagement Events
April to June
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Draft Budget Released
November
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Budget Public Hearings
November
Public hearings will be held on November 23rd and 24th where members of the public are able to come speak to City Council about their priorities for the upcoming budget
REMEMBER TO LINK: Sign-up to speak here
Council Budget Discussions
December
Over 8 Council meetings starting on December 3rd, City Council will discuss what should and shouldn't be funded in the budget. The final vote to approve is scheduled for December 18th
Ward Sspomitapi Budget Engagement Results
Last spring, the City of Edmonton hosted budget engagement events in each ward to hear what residents wanted to see out of next city-budget.
I went a step further and hosted an additional 6 budget engagements all across Ward Sspomitapi and the southeast to make sure that everybody who wanted to, had an opportunity to share their perspective directly with me.
Here is what we heard from the residents of Ward Sspomita
What overall approach should Edmonton's next budget take?
How much Council decides to fund in the four-year budget determines not only what services are provided and what infrastructure gets built, but also what property tax rates, user fees, and fines Edmonton residents will be paying over the next four years.
I wanted to know what balance of property taxes and services provided Ward Sspomitapi residents want to see in the next budget. Participants at budget events got to select their preferred "budget approach".
Overall, Sspomitapi residents told me how much they value the services and programs that the City of Edmonton provides, with a strong desire to maintain the quality of services provided, even if that means increasing taxes to keep up.
What should Edmonton prioritize over the next four years?
The City of Edmonton does a lot of things. Providing front line services, social programs and supports, and behind the scenes management and planning are all vital to keeping our city running. When we sit down to make the budget later this year City Council will have to make some tough decisions about what areas of work we prioritize over the next four years, and what areas we focus less on.
I wanted to know which city services and initiatives Ward Sspomitapi residents wanted to see be increased in funding, and which to be decreased in funding. Each participant at budget engagement events got to place three green stickers on any slice of the city's 2026 operating budget wheel where they wanted to see increased spending, and three red stickers on any slice where they wanted to see decreased spending.
Sspomitapi residents overwhelmingly value our city's frontline services. People want to see the value for the tax dollars that they pay, with a lower emphasis on construction funding and behind the scenes work.
Where residents want to see funding increased the most was social services and safety. This includes improving Fire Rescue services, supports for our most vulnerable neighbours.