City Council approves 2027 Operating Budget
By finding opportunities for budget savings with minimal service level reductions, Lethbridge City Council has listened to its residents.
On Tuesday, Council unanimously approved the City of Lethbridge 2027 Operating Budget based on recommendations from the June 10 deliberations. With the cumulative total of more than 40 budget reductions from City departments, the increase of 2.67 per cent to the Municipal portion of their property taxes in 2027 will be kept closer to inflationary factors.
“Based on what we have heard throughout the community, our Council said we would find reductions for next year and we have,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “These reductions also align with being an economically prosperous city, as stated in Council’s 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.”
The 2023-2026 Operating Budget included a 5.1 per cent increase per year for each of the four years. With zero per cent increases in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the average increase for the last eight years (2019-2026, the last two full Operating Budget cycles) has been 2.8 per cent per year.
As part of Tuesday’s 2027 Operating Budget approval, to be compliant with Municipal Government Act (MGA, Section 283.1), Council has directed Administration to also include a three-year (2028-2030) Forecasted Operating Financial Plan
“The MGA states that each municipality must prepare a written plan respecting its anticipated financial operations during a period of at least three financial years,” says Darrell Mathews, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer. “These numbers are not an approved budget for that timeframe but will provide a base line for us to work from. In late 2027, Council will deliberate the next four-year Operating Budget for 2028-2031.”
The City of Lethbridge practices multi-year budgeting. The current four-year 2023-2026 Operating Budget was approved at the end of 2022. In May 2024, City Council approved changes to the Capital and Operating Budget process by staggering the two budget deliberations by one year.
Due to this process change, the 2023-2026 Operating Budget was extended by one more year to include a “stub year” for 2027. In accordance with MGA requirements, City Council must approve an operating budget by December 31 so the City can pass a property tax bylaw.
The 2027-2030 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget deliberations and approval will take place in late 2026.
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