Hefty 2025 Edmonton property tax increase looms as budget talks start [Video]

Edmonton city council discussed money in all its forms Monday at city hall – be it taxes, deficits or reserves – as it begins two weeks of budget talks.

Councillors are still gathering information before making actual changes to the budget, but the starting point is an 8.1-per-cent tax increase for 2025.

The city is facing inflation, a population boom and pressure to make life more affordable for Edmontonians.

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Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has a plan he says can shave two per cent from that tax increase. One aspect includes pulling $15 million from the neighbourhood renewal program.

“Even if 8.1 per cent goes to 6.6 or 5.6 per cent, that is still roughly 30 per cent in three years,” said Tim Cartmell, who represents Ward Pihesiwin in Edmonton’s southwest. “That is a lot of money.”

Next year’s property tax increase had been forecast at 13 per cent this past summer – up from …