A Path Forward to Municipal Property Tax Fairness in Alberta

Alberta small businesses play a crucial role in the province, contributing to its economic growth and vibrant communities. As businesses grapple with the rising cost of doing business, property taxes remain a critical issue. Rising property taxes have led to higher operational costs which not only affects businesses directly through delayed expansion plans and closures, but also burdens consumers through higher prices and contributes to economic stagnation.

This report ranks Alberta's 20 largest municipalities by measuring two indicators of property tax fairness and showcases how a property tax shift in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and Lethbridge would deliver significant cost savings to businesses with a marginal impact on residents. The report further shows that without municipal action property tax fairness in Alberta's municipalities is expected to get worse for businesses owners, who are already bearing the burden of property taxes.