File Photo/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

BUDGET

Tax and utility rate increases part of 2026 Budget for City of Brooks

Dec 18, 2025 | 10:10 AM

Brooks City Council has approved its 2026 Budget, which includes $41.1 million in operating expenses to maintain essential services and utilities.

The City stated that to meet rising costs, the approved budget includes a tax increase equivalent to almost $10 per month for a home assessed at $300,000, which does not include Alberta Education and Seniors Housing requisitions.

Utility bills will also see an increase, with the average household in Brooks expected to see a rise of about $10.78 per bi-monthly bill.

Increases have been attributed to the rising costs for treated water purchases under the Newell Regional Services Corp. contract, higher landfill requisition fees, and inflationary impacts on electricity and insurance.

The City stated that these factors ensure it can maintain reliable water and waste services while addressing aging infrastructure.

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Rising costs in the operating budget include higher policing costs, insurance and legal fees, and inflationary impacts.

Essential activities such as snow removal, street sanding, line marking, and stormwater management are also included in the operating budget.

A total of $53 million is supporting major projects like the Works & Utilities Administration Office, the Sanitary Trunk Main from Seventh Street East to the Old Lagoon, the Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the Annual Street Improvement Project.

The City said that the Council reduced the capital budget by $7.28 million to strengthen reserves, reduce future debt commitments, and reallocate grant funding to priority projects. A decision they say also lowered reserve use by $4.4 million, improving the City’s financial position.

Grant funding of approximately $14 million is being leveraged to reduce the City’s reliance on reserves while ensuring critical infrastructure projects move forward.

The city said that through responsible financial planning, Brooks continues to deliver exceptional value to ratepayers while remaining one of Alberta’s most affordable municipalities.