Comparing municipal tax hikes tough to do, says Alberta mayor [Video]

After a week of detailed debate, Edmonton city council decided on a 6.1-per-cent tax increase for 2025.

It translates to about an extra $200 per year for the average homeowner.

“Anything less than what we’ve arrived at would be absolutely fiscally irresponsible,” Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford said last week.

Still, every councillor agrees the 6.1-per-cent hike is higher than they’d like to see.

And looking around the region, any pain of passing the increase might feel worse as many Alberta communities approved smaller increases than Edmonton.

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Most municipalities close to Alberta’s capital city, such as Leduc and Strathcona County, kept theirs under four per cent.

Grande Prairie approved the smallest tax bump at just 2.3 per cent. Calgary’s city council managed a 3.6 per cent increase.

Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack says inflation, population growth and provincial funding cuts …