County’s finalized 2026 budget delivers low tax increase for residents

Parkland County Council has approved the finalized 2026 municipal budget, confirming a low residential tax rate increase of just 0.8% and a nonresidential increase of just 2.75%, while maintaining high quality core services and investing in long-term priorities for our growing community. Further, of the 0.8% residential tax rate increase, only 0.09% is related to municipal costs. The bulk of the increase – 0.71% – is related directly to increases in the Provincial Government’s Policing Funding Model for RCMP services. 

Despite facing inflationary challenges and increased cost-shifting from the provincial to the municipal level, Parkland County’s minimal property tax increase is amongst the lowest in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. For a typical home assessed at $500,000, the estimated change is about $1.50 per month, helping ease cost of living pressures while safeguarding core services, programs, and infrastructure.

“We know that families and businesses are feeling the pinch, and every dollar counts,” said Mayor Rod Shaigec. “We campaigned on the promise of financial prudence, accountability, and respecting the priorities of our residents. And that’s what we’ve delivered: a responsible budget that keeps municipal property taxes low while sustaining the services, roads, programs, and infrastructure people rely on. At 0.8% for residents and 2.75% for businesses, we’re balancing affordability with the financial stability needed to keep Parkland County strong.”  

By the Numbers 

• Residential tax rate increase: 0.8% 
• Non-residential tax rate increase: 2.75%  
• Monthly municipal tax increase impact on a $500,000 home: $1.50  
• Projected Net Financial Assets: $118 million  
• Capital investment planned: $23 million 

Clarity about your tax bill

Despite keeping County tax rates low, residents may still see a rise in their overall tax bill. That is because each bill also includes taxes that the County is required to collect on behalf of the Provincial Government for education and policing services, as well as on behalf of seniors’ living facilities. The amounts you pay for these services are not set by the County, and the County does not receive the funds collected for these services.

• Education taxes are set by the Government of Alberta; the County has no control over the rate, and everyone is required to contribute regardless of whether or not they use education services. Over the past two years, Parkland County’s provincially mandated share of education costs has increased significantly, resulting in a cumulative impact of $7.6 million, comprised of a $3.5 million (11.36%) increase in 2025 and a further $4.1 million (11.99%) in 2026. These increases will be reflected on your property tax bill.
• Policing (including RCMP) contributions are set by the Government of Alberta under their updated Police Funding Model. Following changes to the model starting April 1, 2026, the municipal share will increase from 19% to 22% and will continue rising to 30% over five years. This increase, and subsequent years’ increases, will be reflected on your property tax bill. If passed, Bill 28 - Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act 2026 (which is currently before the Alberta Legislature) will allow us to itemize the policing costs as a separate line item on future property tax notices.
• Seniors’ housing requisitions – The City of Spruce Grove, Town of Stony Plain and Parkland County are all required to collect taxes for seniors’ living facilities. The funds collected are passed directly to seniors’ lodges, and all tax-payers are required to pay these amounts whether or not they use the service. In Parkland County, taxes are collected on behalf of the Meridian and Evergreen Foundations.

“It’s important to understand that the County does not control the entire tax bill,” said Mayor Shaigec. “We’re doing what we can to keep taxes low, however the reality is that residents may experience a larger increase due to provincially mandated taxes and requisitions that are outside our control. What I can promise our residents, however, is that we are committed to doing everything we can as a County to ease cost-of-living pressures while balancing financial stability, and we will be going to bat for you at every level of government to ensure that Parkland County residents get a fair deal.” 

For full budget details, please visit www.parklandcounty.com/budget.