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Council approves 2025 Budget

November 19, 2024, for immediate release

Airdrie, AB - On November 19, City Council approved the 2025 Operating Budget of $228,826,130 and the 2025 Capital Budget of $174,674,612. To balance these budgets, Council approved a municipal tax adjustment of $3,931,500 or 4.74%. The average household in Airdrie will see a municipal tax increase and a utility decrease, resulting in a net household increase of $85.32 per year or $7.11 per month.

“We understand that people continue to struggle with inflation in our community,” says Mayor Brown. “At the same time, we have heard from our residents that they want more facilities, infrastructure and services. We worked hard to strike a balance between the two opposing sides that will keep our growing community moving forward.”

Horacio Galanti, Chief Administrative Officer adds, “Airdrie’s rapid growth continues to present both opportunities and challenges for our 2025 budget. Our primary goal is to responsibly manage that growth, inflation and the current global volatility while maintaining the high service levels our community expects.”

Capital Budget highlights

2025 Capital Investments - $6.53/month

  • Lifecycling the City’s $1.3 billion asset base
  • Grand Opening of the new Multi-Use Facility and Library, Inspire
  • Construction of Phase 1 of the new South West Recreation Centre
  • Preventative maintenance and facility equipment replacement at Veterans Fire Hall, Chinook Winds Fire Hall, City Hall, Ron Ebbesen Arena, the Plainsmen Arena and 2 Highland Park
  • Renovations of the main pool and dive tank at Genesis Place
  • West Parking Lot Toplift at Genesis Place
  • Updating fitness equipment at Genesis Place
  • Replacement of the acoustical panels at Genesis Place
  • Planned expansion of the Local Transit Fleet and ICE Fleet
  • Planned replacement of the Regional Transit Fleet
  • Many other capital projects which can be found in the budget book, detailed under section “2025-2034 Capital Budget and Plan”

 

Operating Budget highlights

2025 Municipal Services - $2.85/month

  • One additional RCMP officer
  • Increased Transit service levels on the Local Fixed Routes and the Daily Regional
  • Enhanced pavement preservation through an expanded asphalt crack sealing program
  • An operating grant to the Airdrie Public Library as they move into an expanded Library space nearly four times larger than the current facility and offer increased programming, events and outreach to the community

As well as the increased services listed above, the 2025 budget includes the following City services:

  • Community Safety & Social Services
    • Airdrie Fire Department response & prevention
    • Law enforcement and crime prevention
    • Emergency management
    • Affordable housing projects
    • Not-for-profit support
    • Social well-being improvement
  • Community Infrastructure
    • Maintenance of over 147km of paved pathways, 1,700 acres of parkland and 85 playgrounds
    • Snow and ice control on Airdrie’s 716km of roads
    • Spring cleanup and street cleaning
    • Traffic control
    • Land development
    • Protection and enhancement of natural areas such as Nose Creek
  • Community Services
    • Access to the City’s various recreation facilities including Genesis Place, arenas and outdoor fields
    • Recreation programs such as swimming lessons, summer camps, adult fitness and wellness programs
    • Arts programs at Bert Church Theatre
    • Community events such as New Years Eve and Canada Day fireworks, AirdrieFEST and Cabin Fever
  • Strategic Growth & Investment
    • Access to public transit, including local bus services and regional services to CrossIron Mills and NE/Downtown Calgary
    • Downtown enhancement
    • Economic development and tourism
    • Business and investment attraction

 

Budget Facts

  • The main sources of revenue for the Operating Budget are:
    • User fees and charges
    • Franchise fees
    • Tax revenue
    • Cost sharing/joint use agreements
  • The main sources of revenue for the Capital Budget are:
    • Reserves
    • Developer levies
    • Debt (borrowed funds)
    • Grants
    • Cost sharing/joint use agreements
  • Enough revenue must be raised to cover expenses, debt servicing and transfers to reserves. The City is not allowed to run a deficit and needs a balanced budget each year. Municipal Government is the only level of government required to do so.
  • In 2024, 65% of property taxes will go to the municipality, 34% to the Province for education taxes and 1% to Rocky View Foundation. The tax revenue increase and effect on the average household addressed above refer to the municipal portion of the total property tax bill.
  • City Administration prepares a three-year operating budget and a ten-year capital budget driven by Council’s focus areas and corporate priorities.

The full budget breakdown will be available in January 2025. For more information on the budgeting process, visit www.airdrie.ca/budget 

Media Contact:
Jill Iverson
403.948.8800 ext 8475
jill.iverson@airdrie.ca