As Edmontonians brace for possible 8.1% tax hike, city councillors look to lower the increase – Edmonton [Video]

With city administrators projecting that the City of Edmonton will face a $34 million deficit this year amid ongoing financial challenges, city councillors engaged in discussions on Wednesday about how to keep a tax increase as manageable as possible for 2025.

Earlier this fall, city administrators recommended that city council implement an 8.1 per cent property tax increase for 2025. City administrators have since proposed some ideas to councillors that could reduce that number, including increasing Epcor’s dividend to the city.

“I don’t think I am satisfied settling at 8.1 and I would not vote for that budget,” Coun. Aaron Paquette said on Wednesday.

City council had already approved a seven per cent of that proposed increase in April 2024 in order to maintain services. In August, the possibility of requiring a 13 per cent increase was raised but city administrators worked to reduce that number to the current 8.1 per cent proposal.

City administrators said the additional 1.1 …