The president of the Alberta Municipalities board said the province’s new police funding model could add to a growing financial burden for municipalities.
In December, the Alberta government announced updates to the police funding model that would see municipalities cover 22 per cent of current front-line policing costs, rising to 30 per cent gradually over the next five years. According to government officials, the approach is intended to give communities predictable contributions that align with local budgets.
However, Dylan Bressey said municipalities are dealing with the cumulative impact of multiple provincial decisions, including cuts to local revenue, increased costs and the province taking over more property tax room.
“Local taxes are having to go up just for municipalities to maintain core services and infrastructure,” Bressey said. “The cumulative impact that this and so many other decisions are having on municipal budgets really is creating local challenges.”
Bressey explained the model change directly impacts cities with their own police services, as they already cover the full costs of policing. He said it will primarily affect towns, villages, counties and municipal districts where the province recovers more revenue to pay for local policing.
“It’s not about municipalities not being willing to pay their fair share of services that residents rely on, but there are concerns about the timing of this decision, about how much input municipalities are going to have to make sure that it actually results in better local public safety.”
Bressey said the communities are seeing “the curve bending with preventable social services such as Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) making the its so people are able to receive the help they need before they go through life events that result in the need and use of the police or the criminal justice system.”
“We’re really excited the premier at our conference this year, the premier, committed to advocating for increased FCSS funding, and we’re curious to see where that advocacy goes because for us. Preventative social care isn’t just doing what’s right for our residents, but it’s also saving society a lot of costs in the long run.”
Bressey encouraged residents to learn more about municipal finances through the “Property Taxes Reimagined” campaign, which aims to explain inflation pressures and government decisions affecting local budgets.
“It’s an opportunity for residents to have conversations with both their councils and their MLAs about how core services and infrastructure should be funded,” Bressey said.
According to the Government of Alberta, the funding model was first introduced in 2020 but was based on 2018 costs. Under the current framework, small municipalities are paying about 19 per cent, with policing expenses in smaller communities reported to have risen significantly since. The province has reported it will bridge the funding gap, projecting nearly $32 million in 2026-27 to support rural police services.
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis said the government has heard from municipalities that they need the funding model to be predictable, transparent and easy to understand.
“Costs have outpaced the original formula, meaning communities currently pay less than their intended share.
These updates align municipal contributions with current costs and ensure every dollar collected goes directly to front-line policing in rural communities,” Ellis said.
