Excess municipal spending cost your household $1,625 in 2016, and the equivalent of $9,471 over 2006 – 2016. Your alarm bells should be going off.
Alberta Real Operating Spending and Population Growth, 2006-2016

Source: CFIB calculations, Municipal Affairs, Alberta Government, 2006-2016
In fact, cities are spending way faster than their tax base is growing. Between 2006 and 2016, municipal real operating spending in Alberta grew nearly 3 times faster than population growth.
Simply put: taxpayers cannot continue to absorb unsustainably high municipal costs.
The 2018 Alberta Municipal Spending Report examines 182 municipalities in Alberta, with a specific focus on the largest 20. We are calling on municipal governments to find ways to cut back on spending to help promote a more business friendly environment for local entrepreneurs like you.
Recommendations for government include:
- Limit spending to inflation and population growth;
- Ensure small businesses are not disproportionately burdened by commercial property taxes;
- Review core services for local government;
- Where cost efficient, services are contracted to the private sector;
- Sustainable wage policy for public sector wage, compensation, and hiring;
- Appropriate contingency funds are put in place in case of natural disasters.
Read full report 2018 Alberta Municipal Spending Report.