2022 Budget Adjustments

Watch my budget summary from my December 20, 2021 Online Community Chat.

The 2022 budget adjustment wasn’t an easy decision, but I think we struck a good balance between supporting some of Edmoton’s most vulnerable, and making sure we continue to provide practical core services that boost our economy, raise our city spirit, and encourage neighborhood pride.

In the end we came out with a tax levy increase of 1.91%. Many of the things we approved in the budget are planting seeds for community wellbeing and safety, which we will dig deeper into during the next four-year budget cycle discussions later this year. At that time, I look forward to using tools like priority-based budgeting to set our priorities and guide our decision making.

There are a few things I want to highlight: 

1) We have budgeted for increased snow removal service on priority level 4 - residential roads. 

2) We’ve approved the Ambleside Integrated South Facility in the Southwest. This capital project will take pressure off of existing facilities, allowing City crews to deliver better quality public services like snow removal and grass maintenance to our Ward. 

3) I put forward a motion to explore a tax relief program for home-owners and businesses. 

4) What is appropriate funding for policing? All City services, except for Police Services (EPS), have been trimmed significantly during COVID. EPS is still operating with a $384 million budget and remains the largest item in the City budget.While I voted for a significantly lower increase to the police budget compared to years past, more importantly, I want to see outcomes that match funding . We don't have this framework yet and I look forward to this discussion later this year. Police provide a major service for community wellbeing and safety, they are one player in a much broader ecosystem.  

5) We also increased the capacity for Encampment Outreach and Crisis Diversion. I also want to look at how community-based efforts like the Leefield Safety Council can increase and build capacity for safety in our neighbourhoods.