Okotoks and all municipalities across Alberta are facing significant challenges in how we pay for the local services residents want and need. While there is pressure to keep property taxes low, or even reduce them, many factors are affecting municipal budgets and Council’s ability to fund the services, equipment, and infrastructure needed for a thriving community.

Many of these factors are outside the Town’s control, limiting Council’s options as they work to balance the budget and meet community needs.

5 reasons why property taxes are increasing

We encourage you to click on the tiles below to learn more about each of these challenges, including short videos and fact sheets that break each one down.

  • Funding Cuts from the Province

    Provincial funding to municipalities has been cut roughly in half since 2009, so local councils have had to raise municipal property taxes to make up for it.

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  • Downloaded Costs from the Province

    The province has created new rules and downloaded costs onto municipal governments. This can include things like election rules and policing.

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  • Taking on Provincial Services

    Residents are asking councils to spend money on services that are historically handled by the province. This can include things like social services, recruitment of doctors, and affordable housing.

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  • Increase in Education Taxes from the Province

    The province raised its property tax by 14% in 2025 and plans another 10% increase in 2026 to help fund one‑third of K–12 education. This tax is collected by the Town through your property tax bill.

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  • Inflation and Rising Costs

    In recent years, municipal governments have seen costs go up. In some cases these have skyrocketed, particularly for things like equipment and construction materials.

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The Challenge

The fight to balance the budget

Municipalities can’t plan to spend more than they bring in. When costs go up, Council has only two options