Province will take more than $575 million from Edmonton property owners, almost $50 million more than last year.
As your Councillor, my responsibility is to advocate for Edmontonians and ensure that the decisions made at all levels of government are fair and transparent. This week, Edmonton City Council approved the 2025 property tax bylaw, a necessary step to fund essential services like public safety, infrastructure, and community programs. But within this decision lies a troubling reality: the provincial government continues to shift its financial burden onto Edmontonians, making you pay more without giving our city the support it deserves.
For a typical property in Edmonton:
Total Property Tax: $4,720.
Education portion: $1,170
That is roughly 25% of your property tax bill going directly to the provincial government. This money is NOT directly provided to Edmonton Public or Edmonton Catholic schools, but flows into the general provincial revenue.
A property tax bill consists of two parts: The City’s municipal portion and the provincial portion. The municipal portion reflects the direction set by Council in November, but the provincial portion – determined unilaterally by the Government of Alberta – was only communicated to The City at the end of February. The Province will take more than $575 million from Edmonton property owners, almost $50 million more than last year.
This year, the provincial government raised its share of property taxes on Edmonton homeowners – without consultation or input from those affected. The result? The average Edmonton homeowner will pay approximately $90 more per year. If it was not for this increase, your property tax increase would be 2% lower.
It’s not just about the higher tax bills – it’s about where your money is going. While the province will collect hundreds of millions of dollars from Edmonton’s property taxes in 2025, this money will not be directly reinvested in our city’s services and infrastructure. Edmontonians contribute significantly to Alberta’s economic success, yet we do not receive our fair share in return. This means fewer resources for our communities, our public transit, and our emergency services.
Edmonton, like 343 other municipalities in Alberta, is forced to collect provincial taxes without any reimbursement for the cost of doing so. This is inefficient, unfair, and an unnecessary administrative burden. Yesterday, I introduced the following motion, which passed:
That Administration work with Alberta Municipalities to bring forward a resolution to the fall convention to separate the Provincial Education Tax collection from municipal property taxes. (Carried by a vote of 9 to 4)
We need a true partnership where decisions are made collaboratively, not imposed without discussion. We need a system where the financial burden is shared equitably, not offloaded onto cities like Edmonton.
I want to assure you that I will continue fighting for fairness, transparency, and accountability. While we navigate these fiscal challenges, my commitment remains the same: ensuring Edmontonians get the resources, respect, and reinvestment they deserve.
Background:
Calgary City Council is leading the way and they need our support: https://mayorgondek.ca/province-inflicts-steep-property-tax-increase-on-calgarians/
Take a very close look at your education property tax bill this year. Here are the collection amounts (Government of Alberta document): https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/74aa70ca-c77e-46c0-8fd8-ee79b8c8b42a/resource/3706ad4a-e6a3-4cc9-a866-011523bd39e6/download/ma-education-property-tax-requisition-comparison-report-2025.pdf)
City News:
CTV News:
City councillors say they are “sick and tired” of being blamed for tax increases for which they’re not responsible.
Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz said Wednesday it’s a confusing system and allows the provincial government to raise taxes without taking the blame.
“When Edmontonians open up their tax bill and they see a big jump, they need to understand that’s not going to snow removal, that’s not going to potholes, that’s not going to police, that’s not going to fire, that’s going to Premier Smith,” Janz told media.
City council passed a motion to work with the Alberta Municipalities organization to develop a proposal that would see the two tax streams collected separately, an idea Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has dismissed.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/article/city-council-sets-property-tax-increase-at-57-for-2025/
Friends, are you or someone you know involved in a church or faith community? Would you mind sharing with them this invitation:
Sacred Spaces to Community Places Information Session
Friday, May 22, 2026 - 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Heritage Room, City Hall
Seating is limited. To RSVP, visit edmonton.ca/AffordableHousing or emailing [email protected]
Building 8 arterial roads with a total length of 19.6km could cost the city $272 million. The annual operating costs are millions more each year.
If you guessed parking, you might be correct. This list highlights the case for proactive, automated traffic enforcement such as the program in Calgary. I understand our city administration is talking with provincial officials and we hope to have an update on automated parking enforcement at our June 9th Urban Planning Committee.