Mayor Linnsie Clark and Medicine Hat's eight councillors will consider the 2025-26 budget on Monday. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

DEVELOPING

Proposed City of Medicine Hat budget includes 5.6% tax increase

Nov 29, 2024 | 5:06 PM

The proposed two-year city budget revealed Friday includes a 5.6 per cent property tax increase in 2025 and 2026 for Medicine Hat residents, in line with the Alberta average, officials say.

Those tax increases mean a single family home with an assessable value of $315,000 will pay $10 more per month in 2025 and then $10 on top of that monthly the year after.

The bump in taxes could have been higher but staff was able to cut down capital asks by $12.8 million and found $2.6-million in operating reductions.

They were also able to reduce the workforce by a net 3.0 full time equivalent positions.

Accounting supervisor Aaron Hoimyr said there aren’t any surprises as the process has been very public with over 23 hours dedicated to the budget in open council meetings.

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“We’ve quadrupled the amount of time that we have spent in deliberations with council in a public setting, which is an incredible increase in the amount of transparency in this budget compared to previous budgets,” Hoimyr told CHAT News.

“And we anticipate that when we get to the final day, that this will be something that balances the needs of today with the requirements of tomorrow.”

It will require approval from city council at its Monday meeting.

This is a developing story. Refresh for the latest.