BudgetDeficit

Edmonton has many financial challenges that must be faced for the 2025 budget including a $34 million deficit. City administrators have recommended that city council implement a 8.1 per cent property tax increase and now propose city council reduce that number even more. City administrators have suggested a number of cost cutting measures and other ideas to consider including increasing Epcor’s dividend to the city, renegotiating the city’s phone contracts and slowing down the Heritage Program. City council will also look at a report recommending salary increases which may be not be wise considering the financial state and an upcoming election year.

After a 6.6% budget increase was passed in late November City administration a $52-million shortfall remains. To make up for the $52-million shortfall staff said a further tax increase over a three year period is being considered. The $52-million shortfall spread out over 3 years equals a $10.2 million or 0.48 per cent tax increase in addition to the tax increase previously proposed.

The way various levels of government, including our City approach the stewarding of taxpayers reminds me of the old saying about "being nickled and dimed to death". When Governments nickle and dime by continually making small changes or requests which end up costing the taxpayer multiples millions of nickles and dimes.