Edmonton taxpayers facing 7% tax increase as City Hall maintains services

News release from the City of Edmonton

City releases fall budget adjustments

The City released its fall budget adjustment reports today, recommending updates to respond to increased costs and reduced revenues in order to deliver on 2023-2026 budget commitments. A 7.09 per cent tax increase is needed in 2024 in order to maintain services, which is 2.13 per cent above what was originally approved by City Council when it set the four-year budget in December 2022.

It will cost an additional $41.2 million to maintain services in 2024. The City’s financial pressures include a higher than forecast arbitrated salary settlement and significantly higher energy costs, as well as lower than forecast revenues from transit fares and ATCO Gas franchise fees. These budget pressures are expected to continue for the rest of the budget cycle. The City has already experienced most of these pressures this year, leading to the first budget deficit in many years.

“We are continuing to deliver 70 services that Edmontonians rely on every day, and more than 200 construction projects to serve them now and into the future,” said Stacey Padbury, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager. “We have limited resources, and we know that many Edmontonians are also stretched thin. We are only recommending budget adjustments that are necessary to maintain our services and deliver critical capital projects.”

The 2023-2026 budget provides for increased affordable housing, increased transit service, increased snow and ice control, energy transition and climate adaptation initiatives, as well as major construction projects like the Valley Line West LRT, the Lewis Farms Rec Centre, the rehabilitation of the High Level Bridge and Hawrelak Park, and the Yellowhead freeway conversion. The City adjusts its multi-year budget each fall and spring to account for anything significant that has happened since the budget was set.

In 2020-2022, Council lowered planned tax increases as the City supported Edmontonians through the pandemic. There was no tax increase in 2021 and the tax increase in 2022 was the lowest among major Canadian municipalities.

“These low taxes were necessary, but they aren’t sustainable, especially in the current environment with high prices and significant population growth,” said Padbury. “It’s costing the City more to deliver the same services all while experiencing a growing demand for those services. We can’t continue to absorb the financial impacts we’re facing without adjusting taxes or our service levels, and it will likely take both strategies to ensure we don’t create long-term financial sustainability issues.”

The recommended tax increase would mean that Edmonton households would pay about $750 dollars for every 100,000 dollars of their assessed home value in 2024. That’s $49 more than in 2023. This is an early estimate that will be refined as the City advances through the annual budget, assessment and taxation process. The annual tax increase will affect individual property owners differently, depending on how their property’s assessed value shifts relative to the market. Property owners will learn about their 2024 assessment in January, and will receive their 2024 tax notice in May.

The fall budget adjustment also includes recommendations for the 2023-2026 capital budget. The City is recommending an $88.9 million increase to the capital budget, mainly for affordable housing and critical renewal projects. This increase is less than one per cent of the approved $10.3 billion capital budget.

The City also released its first annual update to the carbon budget. It’s a tool to support Council’s decision-making as they adjust the capital and operating budgets. It also tracks progress on the City’s energy transition goals.

The City is actively working to reduce carbon emissions. The 2023-2026 budget includes more than $376 million dollars in services and construction that support our energy transition goals. The carbon budget update makes it clear just how much more needs to be done, together with the community and other orders of government, to meet our goals of being carbon neutral as a corporation by 2040 and as a community by 2050. Without further action, our updated forecasts show that we’ll deplete both our corporate and community carbon budgets one year earlier than anticipated. This is not the result of any budget decisions made by Council, but rather community impacts as activities return to pre-pandemic levels.

The fall budget adjustment reports will be presented to City Council for discussion and deliberation on November 7, 2023, along with the first annual update to the carbon budget. Council will discuss and finalize any budget adjustments during the last two weeks of November. Edmontonians can view the City’s recommended adjustments and learn more about the process at edmonton.ca/budget.

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Alberta

Province forms Edmonton Public Safety Cabinet Committee in response to homeless encampment crisis

Published on January 12, 2024

Government of Alberta

Edmonton encampments: Deputy Premier Ellis

Deputy Premier Mike Ellis issued the below statement in response to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s announcement of his intention to declare an emergency:

“In November, Premier Danielle Smith ordered that an emergency cabinet committee be created and convened in response to the issue of crime and gang-related activity within encampments across the City of Edmonton.

“Alberta’s government cares deeply about vulnerable Edmontonians and we will always ensure that anyone who wants shelter and supportive services will receive it. However, we will not stand by and watch as vulnerable Albertans and the general public continue to be extorted, taken advantage of and killed by gangsters and deadly drugs.

“The Edmonton Public Safety Cabinet Committee (EPSCC) is comprised of ministers from departments that oversee operations and/or administer programs that promote public safety and support the transition of Edmonton-based encampment residents into safe, secure and appropriate arrangements.

“The cabinet committee membership includes:

Danielle Smith, Premier (chair)
Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice
Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
Ric McIver, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services
Searle Turton, Minister of Children and Family Services
Dan Williams, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction
Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations

“Also sworn into the committee are:

Cody Thomas, Grand Chief, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations
Dale McPhee, Chief, Edmonton Police Service

“This committee has met continuously since its initial meeting on Nov. 29, 2023, to plan a joint response. Our government is working on an action plan alongside Alberta Health Services, Edmonton Police Service, the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and several departments from the City of Edmonton, including Edmonton Fire Rescue Services.

“Our government will continue to respond to these issues following the expected court decision on Jan. 16, no matter the outcome. We will have a more detailed statement regarding this response once the court decision is made.”

Additional quotes

“It is dangerous for the mayor and others to continue to suggest that vulnerable Albertans do not have anywhere to turn. This is false and will lead to more folks choosing not to seek out shelter because they fear they’ll be turned away. I have said before and will continue to say: there is safe space in shelters around the city and nobody will be turned away. We have more than enough room for every homeless person in the city of Edmonton to have a warm, safe place to stay. It is completely inappropriate and dangerous for the mayor, or anyone, to suggest Edmonton is out of capacity in our social services sector or our emergency shelter systems. Anyone needing shelter space will be kept care of.”

Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services

“I have been working and will continue to work diligently alongside the provincial government, in the spirit of reconciliation, for months on the serious action that is needed to get all people off the streets, including First Nations people. Encampments are not a safe place and letting people overdose and freeze in the cold is not reconciliation.”

Cody Thomas, Grand Chief, Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations

Alberta

City of Edmonton shuts down eighth homeless encampment after insuring space for occupants in warm shelters

Published on January 10, 2024

Todayville Edmonton

New release from the City of Edmonton

Closure of eighth high-risk encampment proceeds; court deliberations about future response activity continue

Additional requirements will continue to apply to the City’s response to eight high-risk homeless encampments while the Court considers questions of rights and public safety.

Court Hearing

Today, Justice Martin extended the conditions of the interim interim injunction to Tuesday, January 16. In addition to the City’s existing protocols, the Order requires the City to include the following considerations as part of its assessment and decision making process for eight high-risk encampment closures:

Before clearing the encampments, City and/or the Edmonton Police Service will make sure there is sufficient shelter space or other indoor space;
If there is not enough space, officers will close only if a danger to public health and safety;
City will consider the cold weather in decision making;
City will advise agencies at earliest convenience about closure;
Order does not impact ongoing wellness checks by City staff or fire services;
48 hour notice will be given again to residents; and
Notice to include reason, date

Deliberations at today’s court hearing involved reviewing legal matters about representation and standing in the courts and whether particular evidence should be allowed.

Court deliberations continue on January 11 and January 16.

High-risk encampment closure at 95th Street and 101A Avenue

The scheduled closure and cleaning of a high-risk encampment in the vicinity of 95th Street and 101A Avenue resumed today. This is the last of eight sites subject to the conditions of the interim Order and the closure was in full compliance with the City’s obligations, including providing advance notice to social agencies.

An encampment may be assessed as high risk where there is a serious risk of injury or death due to fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, drug use, gang violence, physical violence including weapons, public health and/or sanitation risks, environmental degradation and/or criminal activity. It is also assessed based on its proximity to local amenities including schools and playgrounds, the number of people and structures in the encampment, if the location has previously been an encampment site and how long it has been in place.

This encampment meets several of these criteria and was the site of a serious sexual assault on December 16, 2023.

The extremely cold weather increases the already high risk of injury and death due to fire. In 2023, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to 135 fires in encampments resulting in 22 injuries and three fatalities. In the last week two fires have led to injuries and one propane tank has exploded at encampment sites.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services reminds Edmontonians that open flames or heating elements situated too close to combustibles can start fires. With regard to propane tanks:

Propane cylinders should not be exposed to open flames.
Leaking cylinders can easily ignite and heated cylinders can explode.

Encampment Closure Facts – as of 4:00 p.m. Wednesday

Prior to today’s closure and cleanup, the City received confirmation from the Government of Alberta that there is sufficient shelter capacity for any individuals leaving the site who wish to access shelters. With the activation of the City’s extreme weather response this week, 50 shelter spaces at the Al Rashid Mosque were added. Additionally, 49 spaces opened at NiGiNan’s Pimatisiwin site (former Sands Hotel) and Enoch opened 10 additional spaces at the former Coliseum Inn site.

City crews will continue to clean the site as the day progresses. As a result, some of the information provided below is subject to change:

Encampment location – in the vicinity of 95th Street and 101A Avenue
Number of structures – 7
Number of occupants -5
Instances of medical aid provided -0
Arrests – 3 people were arrested and charges are pending by EPS
Tickets Issued – 0
Warrants executed – 0
Cleaning data
Truckloads/ kg waste removed – 21 truckloads (roughly 2,000 kg)
Needles – tbd
Shopping Carts – 7
Propane tanks – 31
The REACH 24/7 Crisis Diversion Teams were on site to provide transport and support as needed.
Today, as with other days, we considered the weather conditions in our decision. The increased risk of frostbite, hypothermia and injury from fire were important factors in the decision to proceed with action.
The extreme weather protocol activates enhanced supports for vulnerable Edmontonians including additional 50 shelter spaces at the Al Rashid Mosque.
Even with available shelter space, some Edmontonians experiencing homelessness may sometimes choose not to go to shelters.

Future Closures

Today’s closure is the last of the eight high-risk sites subject to the Order. The City continues to receive encampment complaints, and will continue to assess the risk of encampment sites as they are identified.

This is all the information the City is able to provide at this time.