City Budgets - Operating and Capital
The City of Edmonton delivers programs and services and builds the infrastructure that is necessary to maintain and enhance our high standard of living.
The Operating Budget deals with the day-to-day costs required to run the city: maintaining the roads and public transit that move people; police, bylaws and fire rescue services to keep people safe; parks, waste management and drainage to keep our communities clean and healthy; social programs and leisure activities to make Edmonton a great place in which to live, work and visit. The Operating Budget identifies the costs for these services and the sources of revenue to pay for the services, including property taxes, utility rates and user fees.
The Capital Budget is for the infrastructure that the City builds such as roads, bridges, recreation centres, fire halls, police stations and libraries. The City invests in new infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population and economy, and repairs existing infrastructure to maintain the high standards Edmontonians expect. The main funding sources to build and renew the infrastructure required for a progressive and modern City include grants from provincial and federal governments, the City’s investment income, developer fees, local improvement fees, and debt financing.
City Council and Administration begin planning for the two budgets well in advance. Council establishes budget guidelines, usually in the spring, to help determine priorities, which Administration uses to prepare draft budgets for Council to review and finalize in November and December.
Assessment Notice mailed in January
The City mails all notices of property value assessment in January. This notice helps you estimate your annual taxes. Your property's assessed value determines your share of total City taxes collected. Always check your assessed value to make sure it looks accurate. You have until March to review the assessment. You can appeal your property assessment (file a complaint), but you cannot appeal your tax bill.
Your Tax Notice comes in May
The City receives the Provincial Education Tax requisition in early spring, which is also added to your property tax notice. The City makes final budget calculations in March/April to adjust for any forecast changes in revenue for the year ahead or costs that were not identified in December.
Your tax notice is sent in late May and tax payment is due by June 30. You can register for the monthly payment plan to spread the cost over the year.
Your final tax notice is mainly determined by the size of the City budget, the Provincial Education Tax, any local improvement charges for your neighbourhood or street, and your property's value relative to the total value of all properties in Edmonton.
