Budget and Finance

The budget is one of the most critical policy decisions the Council makes each year. Careful budgeting and sound financial decisions mean better services for our residents and ensure taxpayers get the best value for their money.

Everything the County does has an associated cost. Whether it is a direct service, such as enforcement, snow removal, and the labour and equipment for road maintenance, or an indirect cost, such as supporting regional recreational and cultural facilities. Council and staff spend a great deal of time making sure careful financial decisions are aligned with taxpayer expectations.

Lacombe County Council has approved the County’s 2026 operating and capital budgets, following a detailed review at the November 25, 2025, Budget Meeting. The 2026 budgets focus on maintaining strong service levels, planning for long-term growth, and keeping tax rates stable for residents and businesses.

2026 Operating Budget Expenses 2026 Operating Budget Revenue Consolidated Operating Budget 2026 Consolidated Capital Budget 2026

Annual Budget Process

It is important to note that Council is not formally approving the annual tax rates when adopting the budgets. There are two stages in setting the budgets:

Stage 1: Developing and approving the operating and capital budgets each year in late November or early December. Approval of the annual budgets authorizes the County to incur expenditures and conduct its operations on January 1 of the following year. The budgets are based on preliminary property assessment information and estimated requisition levies.
Stage 2: Approving the annual tax rate bylaw in April or May, which will establish the current year’s property tax rates by property type and give the County authority to prepare and issue property tax notices. This occurs in the spring, after the Province sets the property tax levy for education purposes and when property assessment values have been confirmed.

2026 Operating Budget

The $80.3 million operating budget covers the day-to-day services residents rely on—such as road maintenance, fire services, enforcement, parks, water and wastewater services, and community recreation supports. This includes $16.8 million in provincial requisitions for education, seniors housing, and Designated Industrial Properties.

Key points from the operating budget:

Continuation of 2025 service levels, adjusted for a 2% inflation factor (excluding labour), including operational support to urban and rural recreation facilities.
A one-time $1.08 million contribution to the Water/Wastewater Reserve for future projects.
Change in air photos updates from a four-year cycle to a three-year cycle.
Implementation of Records Management initiatives – supports Information Governance and SharePoint implementation.
Wastewater servicing study on the south shore of Sylvan Lake.
Collaborating with our urban partners in the development of a Lacombe Lake Management Plan, Gull Lake Water/Wastewater Feasibility Study, and Labour Market Partnership study.
Annual provincial grants through the Local Government Fiscal Framework and Canada Community Building Fund.

2026 Operating Budget (Consolidated)

2026 Capital Budget

The $29.0 million capital budget represents a 1.49% increase from 2025 and continues the County’s emphasis on road improvements, bridge replacements, recreation projects, and utility upgrades.

Highlights from the 2026 capital plan include:

$16.8 million in road infrastructure, including new paving in two country residential subdivisions.
Three bridge replacement projects totalling $2.35 million.
$3 million for the Tees Truck Fill Station (continued from 2025).
$2.5 million in recreation capital projects.
$750,000 for the Aspelund Industrial Park storm pond.
$500,000 for new accounting software implementation.

Capital funding sources include:

$16.97 million from capital reserves
$7.92 million from tax-supported operations
$3.74 million in capital grants
$392,040 in equipment trade-ins

More than 58% of capital funding comes from reserves that the County has built over time, reflecting long-term planning and a commitment to avoiding debt.

2026 Capital Budget (Consolidated)