EDMONTON — Budget deliberations have been begun at City Hall and councillors are struggling to reduce the proposed tax hike for next year.
Right now the increase is sitting at 4.9 per cent. But the mayor has indicated he hopes to see the number lower than 3.5 percent.
READ MORE: ‘I think it’s time for some restraint’: Mayor Don Iveson on Edmonton tax increases
Debate has now shifted to the operating budget with various city agencies now presenting to council.
Police Chief Rod Knecht presented his department’s budget proposal to council Friday afternoon, requesting a funding increase of more than $20 million over the next three years, including an increase of 24 officers.
Knecht acknowledged the city budget is tight, but noted domestic violence and property crime are up.
“We were a little taken a back by the number of calls for service, how quickly things went up over this last year, quite significant,” said the police chief.
The police department is the biggest expense for the city; accounting for nearly 15 per cent of the operating budget.
“Multi-year budgeting actually allows us to look out a couple of years,” said Mayor Don Iveson. “Police have done very well in previous years. I think their base is built up.
“There’s no doubt they could use more to continue to pick up the pieces around addiction and mental health issues in the inner city, homelessness, court delays – which cause a lot of costs for police – which other provinces have done a great job in addressing those things. Alberta, I understand, is quite far behind.
“I have a real hard time giving police enough money to cover all of those challenges – which really are downloaded to us, especially by the province – I really have a hard time giving them those funds now because that lets the province off the hook just like we’ve done for the last 10 years.”
The police chief liked the idea of formula-based funding.
“To the extent that if it’s at the right level year-over-year, it allows us to plan for the future,” said Knecht.
No decision on the police budget will be made until early December.
“If we don’t get what we ask for, then we make adjustments like everybody else,” said Knecht.
While the tax hike remains up in the air, utility rates are confirmed to rise.
Homeowners will be paying more for waste management and drainage services. That means about $28 more per year for garbage and recycling for the typical household. That’s $2.31 per month. Residents will also pay $12 more per year for drainage services which includes sewers and flood mitigation. That’s $1 more per month.
READ MORE: Proposed Edmonton property tax increase 4.9% for next 3 years
You can learn more about the city’s budget here.
More to come…
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