Maintaining Reliable Services and Long-Term Financial Stability.

The 2026 budget reflects the actual cost of delivering municipal services, maintaining infrastructure, and supporting long-term financial stability for the Town of Valleyview. Over the past several years, operational costs have continued to increase while municipal revenues did not keep pace at the same rate. As a result, previous operating years experienced financial pressures and operational shortfalls that reduced the Town’s financial flexibility and reserve capacity. The 2026 budget is intended to better align municipal revenues with the actual cost of providing services and maintaining community infrastructure.

WHY ARE PROPERTY TAXES CHANGING IN 2026?

For several years, municipal revenues did not keep pace with rising operating costs, infrastructure needs, and actual service delivery expenses. The 2026 budget aligns municipal revenues with the real cost of maintaining reliable services and infrastructure for the community. Recent audited financial statements identified operational deficits of approximately $1.43 million in 2023 and $1.50 million in 2024, reflecting increasing operational and infrastructure pressures facing the Town. While the 2025 financial statements have not yet been finalized, the 2026 budget reflects efforts to stabilize municipal finances and improve long-term financial sustainability.

WHAT DOES PROPERTY TAX PAY FOR?

Municipal property taxes help fund essential local services, including:   

  • Road maintenance and snow removal
  • Water, sewer, and storm infrastructure
  • Parks, recreation, and community facilities
  • Fire protection and emergency response
  • Public works operations
  • Bylaw and municipal administration
  • Long-term infrastructure maintenance and replacement
  • Updated revenue projections
  • More accurate operating cost estimates
  • Adjustments identified through year-end financial review
  • Budget corrections to better reflect actual municipal expenses
  • Continued investment in maintaining infrastructure and service reliability
MUNICIPAL TAXES ARE ONLY ONE PART OF THE TOTAL BILL

Property tax notices also include requisitions collected on behalf of other organizations, including:

  • Provincial education taxes
  • Seniors housing requisitions These requisitions are set externally and are not controlled by the Town.

These requisitions are set externally and are not controlled by the Town.

THIS IS ABOUT SERVICE RELIABILITY

Council’s priority is to maintain essential municipal services while ensuring the Town remains financially stable and able to respond to infrastructure and operational needs. Reducing the tax requirement would require corresponding reductions in services, infrastructure work, or other municipal expenditures.

HOW DOES VALLEYVIEW COMPARE?

Valleyview’s municipal tax rates remain generally comparable to similar municipalities in the region. The Town continues to work toward balancing affordability, service expectations, and long-term financial sustainability.  

FOCUSING ON LONG-TERM STABILITY

The 2026 budget reflects a continued effort to:   

  • Improve financial transparency
  • Align budgets with actual costs
  • Maintain infrastructure before repairs become more expensive
  • Protect service reliability
  • Support responsible long-term planning
FAQs

This budget reflects the actual cost of delivering municipal services and maintaining infrastructure. Council’s focus was ensuring long-term financial stability and service reliability rather than continuing to defer costs into future years. 

Yes, but meaningful reductions would require corresponding reductions to services, infrastructure work, or other operating expenditures. Council had to balance affordability with maintaining reliable municipal operations. 

The 2026 budget included a detailed review of revenues, expenditures, and operational requirements to better align the budget with actual costs and current service expectations.

Administration identified that prior budgets did not fully reflect actual operating costs and service delivery requirements. The 2026 budget is intended to better align revenues and expenditures moving forward. In Alberta, municipalities are legislatively required to adopt balanced budgets.

Valleyview’s municipal tax rates remain within a comparable range to similar municipalities in the region.