Last fall, Council deliberated and approved the Fall 2025 Supplemental Budget Adjustment, which resulted in a 6.9% tax increase. As previously noted, I voted against this increase. You can find more details on the outcome of those deliberations by clicking here. 

As we enter the final year of the current four-year budget (2023–2026), City Council must  deliberate and approve the next four year budget for 2027–2030 in November/December of this year. 

The budget sets out service and construction projects over the next four years, along with the property taxes and user fees needed to pay for them. The upcoming budget will have to balance maintaining the programs, services and construction projects that Edmontonians use every day with the realities of inflationary pressures, rapid population growth and evolving service needs.

Your Feedback is Needed

I am taking these upcoming discussions very seriously. I understand the importance of reducing property tax increases, as citizens cannot continue to experience these repetitive hikes. 

Part of preparing for these conversions this Fall is engaging and communicating engagement opportunities with the residents of my Ward. This involves both online and in-person engagement opportunities with the City.  Your feedback will inform City Administration as they build the budget, and will be shared with City Council this fall to support their decision-making as they debate, adjust and approve the budget in December.

Firstly, the City is conducting online public engagement opportunities. From March 23 to May 1, Edmontonians are invited to share their feedback for the 2027-2030 budget. The online options available to residents are as follows: 

• Use the Balance the Budget Tool: Dig into this year’s operating budget and show City Administration what changes you would make 
• Take the What Matters to you Survey: Tell City Administration your priorities for City services and construction projects, and your preferences on property taxes and user fees. 

In addition, there are a number of in-person engagement opportunities happening throughout the month of April. These engagement opportunities are in-person drop-in sessions so citizens can understand what budget preferences are most important to those living in each ward. Again, your input will inform the City’s four-year budget priorities and funding decision. For Ward pihêsiwin, our session is as follows, I will be in attendance and I hope you can attend and participate: 

• Date: Tuesday April 21st, 2026 
• Time: 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm
• Location: Whitemud Creek Community Hall (951 Ogilvie Blvd NW, T6R 1K8) 

If you are unable to attend the session on April 21st, there are additional sessions throughout the month of April. I encourage you to click the following link to see the additional sessions times and more information on the overall 2027-2030 Budget Engagement. 

More Engagement Opportunities from my Office  

As noted in my previous updates, my office will host a hybrid town hall to discuss this past winter’s snow operations. As we approach the next budget cycle, I want to hear your feedback on what we can improve or change. My team is finalizing the details, and we will share them with you in the coming month. 

Additionally, as budget deliberations approach, we will hold another hybrid town hall meeting focused on the four-year budget. This meeting will be later in the year and closer to the actual deliberations. We will share those details as soon as they become available. My team and I are working hard to ensure your voice is represented at the Council table this fall, and I encourage you to follow my social media channels for timely updates.

If you are unable to attend the budget session on April 21st but would like to connect sooner, I invite you to join me at my next "Coffee with your Councillor" meet-up. I will be at the Glenridding A&W (16725 Rabbit Hill Road SW) on Saturday, April 18th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Thank you, and I hope to see you at one of these events.

Sincerely, 

Mike Elliott