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Part 1 of 4

Edmonton 2026 Budget Simulator

Calculate the combined tax impact of operating budgets and capital debt.

The services we deliver
$
$0 Max: ~$337M
The things we build

Borrowing $100 million adds about $8 million to the annual operating budget.

$
$0 Max: $1 Billion
= $0 Annual Cost
$

City Typical: $492,500

$

Enter your business property value

City Tax Levy Increase
6.9%
Reset to Baseline (6.9%)
Your Home Impact Residential
$263.03
Yearly Increase
$21.92
Monthly Increase
Est. Total '26 Bill $5,211
Your Business Impact Non-Residential
$1,627.99
Yearly Increase
$135.67
Monthly Increase
Est. Total '26 Bill $29,392

Estimated Total Bill Breakdown

TOTAL $5,211
Municipal Portion
$3,812
Provincial Education
$1,399
Est. Provincial Increase 0%
Note: Municipal estimates include the 2026 tax levy increase. Provincial Education estimates are based on current available mill rates.
Part 2 of 4

The Inflation Reality Check

Simulator: Shift the Spending Basket

Municipal costs rise faster than household costs. A tax increase matching standard inflation results in a service cut.

[ CONSUMER ]
Inflation Rate
2.1%
Household Goods
[ MUNICIPAL ]
Household (CPI) City Operations (MPI)
Your dollar buys milk and clothes. Costs are relatively stable.

The Current Reality: 4 Key Pressures

1. Savings Drained
Financial Stabilization Reserve

The city used reserve funds to subsidize taxes. The reserve is now below the minimum threshold.

2. Structural Deficit
Costs Exceed Revenue

Base costs rose faster than tax revenue. Operating costs exceed current funding levels.

3. The Growth Trap
New Neighbourhoods

New low-density neighborhoods cost more to service than they generate in taxes.

4. Provincial Cuts
Offloading Costs

The province reduced infrastructure grants. Costs shifted directly to the municipality.

Part 3 of 4

Rewriting History: The Fiscal Gap

Drag the slider to see how past tax decisions created the current deficit.

Left: Actual History (Taxes kept artificially low).
Right: Fully Funded (Taxes match population growth and inflation).

Historical Tax Rates: Actual History
Actuals (Gap Widens) Fully Funded (No Gap)
Cumulative Structural Deficit
$0M
Service Status
Critical Strain

Simulate: The One-Time Fix

2026 vs. Future
2026 Tax Increase: 6.9%
0% 15% (Correction)
6.9% 2026
? 2027
? 2028
? 2029
? 2030

Infrastructure: The Cost of Waiting

$1M Today
Fix Now
$1M
Fix in 0 Years
Today Future

The Affordability Paradox

Counter-Intuitive Truth: Delaying maintenance to save $50 today forces a $500 emergency repair tomorrow. Predictable investment prevents costly emergencies.

[ AUSTERITY ]
Low Taxes Today
↓
Delayed Repairs
↓
Expensive Emergency Rebuilds
[ INVESTMENT ]
Stable Funding
↓
Regular Maintenance
↓
Lower Long-Term Cost
Part 4 of 4

You Be the Councillor: Service Balancer

Adjust service levels to calculate the tax impact.

Budget Impact
$0M
Tax Levy %
0.00%
Household Cost
$0/yr
Community Safety
Cut Base Grow
Status Quo: Standard response times. Current patrol levels maintained against population growth.
Snow & Ice Control
Cut Base Grow
Status Quo: Standard grooming. Residential roads bladed to 5cm snowpack. Main roads cleared within 48 hours.
Public Transit
Cut Base Grow
Status Quo: Current frequency. Maintains current route schedules and bus frequency.
Parks & Grass
Cut Base Grow
Status Quo: Standard cycle. Grass cut every 10 to 14 days depending on weather.
Disclaimer: All figures are estimates based on current City of Edmonton financial data, 2026 property assessments, and current provincial tax rates. Actual tax bills will vary based on individual property assessment changes and final provincial requisitions. This tool is for educational and planning purposes only.