City Council approves 2025 municipal budget

November 26, 2024

Lloydminster, AB/SK – Lloydminster City Council has approved a 2025 municipal budget that includes quality-of-life investments for residents and improvements to essential infrastructure.
The operating budget is $110 million and the capital budget is $52.9 million.

Key projects from the proposed 2025 capital budget include:

$28.6 million – completion of Cenovus Energy Hub
$5.4 million – water and wastewater system replacement
$6.0 million – road construction, repairs and rehabilitation
$1.9 million – wastewater facility lagoon desludging
$1.6 million – Russ Robertson Arena cement pad replacement

The approved budget includes a 4.5% municipal tax rate increase and anticipated assessment growth of 2.5%.

The tax increase supports $2.3 million in enhancements and cost increases related to Protective Services, including higher costs for the RCMP contract, the addition of two RCMP members, and changes to the Fire Services model. Also included is a $1.4 million increase in transfers to reserves for current and future infrastructure projects, as well as operating costs in anticipation of the opening of the Cenovus Energy Hub in fall 2025. Inflation and carbon tax continue to be among the City’s most significant challenges in balancing the costs of essential services and infrastructure programs. Additionally, Lloydminster continues to advocate for the restoration of provincial funding amounts, which have diminished since 2020.

Assuming a 4.5% increase in the municipal tax levy, a Lloydminster homeowner with an assessed property value of $350,000 will pay an additional $10 per month in municipal taxes in 2025.

Quotes

“After weeks of discussion and thorough review, we have an approved budget that gives deep consideration to effect on ratepayers and addresses some of our most pressing infrastructure priorities,” said Mayor Gerald Aalbers. “Looking ahead to 2025, this Council and Administration are reaffirming a commitment to advocating for Lloydminster at the highest levels of our federal and provincial governments to ensure we receive fair and proportionate funding needed to keep pace with inflationary and growth-related challenges.”
Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers, City of Lloydminster

“The belief we have placed in ourselves over the past decade is being rewarded as Lloydminster once again finds itself in a state of growth. As we make the gradual transition from a small city to a growing urban centre, it’s crucial that we continue to invest strategically in essential services and infrastructure. While the challenges are many, we are encouraged by the demonstrable progress made in long-term financial planning, supported by a detailed asset management strategy. This work is already providing Administration with data that helps plan more effectively year over year, allowing us to map important projects on a 10-year horizon.”
Dion Pollard, City Manager, City of Lloydminster

Background

Prior to the compilation of the draft budget, the City of Lloydminster embarked on an eight-week public engagement campaign to collect input from residents and businesses prior to fall budget deliberations. In addition to the 314 responses gathered through the online survey, City Council and Administration engaged informally with more than 500 people during a series of public engagement events between June 7 and August 5, 2024.

The first draft budget was presented to City Council for information on October 30, 2024.