Council has approved the 2026 Budget following a series of purposeful refinements informed by extensive community engagement. The approved budget maintains affordability, protects essential services, and directs investment towards areas residents told us are most important, including community safety, improved transportation networks and planning for the Okotoks Recreation Centre expansion.
“Residents made their priorities clear, and this budget follows their lead,” says Mayor Tanya Thorn. “We’ve strengthened investments in safety, transportation and road infrastructure, and continued planning for future community needs while keeping costs manageable. It’s a balanced, community-driven budget that reflects the priorities of Okotoks residents.”
Investing in Safety
Through past engagements, residents have consistently reinforced that community safety and reliable emergency services are top priorities. To maintain these service levels and keep pace with growing demand and regulatory requirements, the 2026 Budget includes funding to strengthen local capacity.
This year’s budget adds four firefighters to enhance emergency response readiness and restores funding for two RCMP officers to support policing and community security. These investments strengthen the Town’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies and help maintain a safe, resilient community.
Planning for Future Needs
The 2026 Budget includes a capital reserve contribution to responsibly fund future infrastructure upgrades and help stabilize property tax impacts over time. This proactive approach supports initiatives already in progress:
- Implementation of initiatives from the Transportation Master Plan including intersection improvements at 338 Ave and 32 Street to improve traffic flow and safety.
- Planning for the future expansion of the Okotoks Recreation Centre including additional community amenity options to enhance quality of life.
Together, these efforts lay the groundwork for thoughtful, future-focused investment to improve citizen satisfaction and quality of life.
Maintaining Affordability and Stability
Affordability remained a key focus throughout the budgeting process. Despite rising costs, Council worked to refine the plan in a way that protects essential services and aligns with resident priorities, while keeping household impacts manageable.
“We absorbed more than $3 million in cost pressures through careful prioritization and thoughtful refinements, allowing us to keep the tax adjustment to just under $10 per month while still advancing key investments,” said Katherine Van Keimpema, Chief Financial Officer. “The result is a budget that remains affordable for households and continues to support strong, reliable services.”
For the average single-family home, this represents an increase of about $10 per month— approximately $5 for community safety and $5 allocated to capital reserves for future infrastructure needs. When combined with a $3.75 per month utility adjustment, the total monthly impact is about $13.75. Okotoks continues to remain below the median taxation level among comparable municipalities.
The 2026 Budget continues to serve as a bridge year, giving Council time to refine long-term priorities and prepare for the next four-year financial cycle. This approach maintains stability today while positioning the Town for thoughtful, well-aligned investment guided by community input and the needs of a growing community.
Residents can learn more at okotoks.ca/budget.