Tyler Gandam, president of Alberta Municipalities, discusses the struggles municipalities have been facing as they deal with inflation, booming populations, and the pressure to make life more affordable with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Michael Higgins: Let’s start right there on the element of budgets – municipalities attempting to rein in tax increases and find a boatload of savings.
What’s your read on the degree of sympathy the provincial government has for the plight of municipalities on that financial front?
Tyler Gandam: I think everybody is facing some financial difficulties, whether it’s the provincial, federal or municipal governments – and we’re constantly trying to find those efficiencies.
I know that in my municipality, we’ve gone through a priority-based budgeting session. We’ve gone through zero-based budgeting trying to find those efficiencies – not just tacking three or four per cent on to an existing budget and calling it good.
So while I can appreciate that …