Budget 2025: Balancing short-term needs with long-term sustainability

Strathcona County Council has approved a 3.90 per cent property tax revenue increase for 2025, one of the lowest in the region, ensuring continued high-quality services for residents. 

Budget 2025 focuses on managing growth, fostering a thriving community, and meeting current and future needs of residents and partners across industrial, commercial, agricultural, and local business sectors. It also ensures the continued prioritization of essential and key services such as snow clearing, emergency response, utility maintenance and recreational programming.  

Additionally, the opening of The Pointe Agricultural Event Centre, scheduled for 2025, will further enhance local infrastructure and support the future of our agricultural community. 

“This budget represents our commitment to prudent financial management and strategic planning, balancing immediate needs with long-term sustainability,” said Jennifer Cannon, Chief Financial Officer for Strathcona County. “By prioritizing efficiency and maintaining excellent service levels, we are ensuring that Strathcona County remains well-positioned for continued growth and prosperity, while delivering lasting value to our residents.” 

In December 2023, Council approved a 6 per cent tax increase for a recreation and culture levy, to be spread by 2 per cent each year, over three years. The 2025 tax increase includes the second year of this levy, with the last year being in 2026. This levy is to be attributed to offset the total cost of building the new Indoor Fieldhouse which will provide increased recreation space much needed in the County.  

The estimated impact of a 3.90 per cent increase on a typical residence assessed at $460,000 will be $85 per year, or $7 per month. 

“It was crucial that we approached this year’s budget with prudence,” said Mayor Frank. “We’ve worked hard to ensure that any necessary tax increases remain modest, while continuing to provide the essential, high-quality services our residents rely on. Our focus includes preserving Strathcona County’s long-term financial stability, while minimizing the impact on household budgets.”  

The final municipal tax rate will be approved in spring of 2025. More information on the 2025 budget is available at strathcona.ca/budget.  

 
Additional information 

Recreation and culture levy 

The total tax revenue requirement for 2025 is 3.90 per cent, of which 2 per cent is attributed to the recreation and culture levy. In 2024, 2 per cent has already been collected for the recreation and culture levy, totalling 4 per cent over the two years. 

Capital budget: 

Strathcona County plans its capital budget with a 10-year outlook. 2025 is year two of three for the approved multi-year capital budget. In 2025, the budget totals $167 million. 

2025 

• Total Buildings - $71,200,000 
• Includes $2 million towards planning and design of a Senior’s Centre 
• Total Electronic Hardware/Software - $962,102 
• Includes annual maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement programs 
• Total Machinery and Equipment - $3,678,126 
• Includes brush and yard waste services relocation 
• Total Parks and Open Space Development - $2,336,800 
• Includes parks infrastructure lifecycle annual maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement programs 
• Total Roadway Infrastructure - $ 33,032,744  
• Includes roadway rehabilitation, growth and annual maintenance and replacement programs 
• Total Utilities - $33,190,000  
• Includes Centre in the Park wastewater construction 
• Total Vehicles - $22,500,283  
• Includes annual fleet addition and replacements 

Other upcoming facilities to be upgraded or built in the County include:  

• Station 7 Fire Hall: Approved project. Currently in the planning and design phase, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027. Budgeted at $27 million, covering both the building and necessary servicing.    
• Multi-use indoor fieldhouse: Approved project. In the concept phase with construction expected to commence in 2026. Budgeted at $65 million.   
• Sherwood Park Arena: Forecasted project. In the concept phase for upgrades with construction expected to commence in 2027. Budgeted at $12 million.   
• Seniors’ Centre: Forecasted project. In the concept phase; construction expected to commence in 2027/2028. Earmarked at $10 million.   

Utility rates 

Utility fees for water, wastewater, stormwater management, and solid waste collection will increase by 4.09 per cent; an additional $5.50 per month or $66 per year for the average urban residential utility customer in 2025. 

Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595