The budget assumes a 0% net increase to residential property taxes in 2026 and keeps the nonresidential tax rate at $10 for every $1000 in assessed value.
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At its February 24th, 2026, Special Council Meeting, Coaldale Town Council officially approved the Town’s 2026–2028 Operating Budget. As per Section 244 of the Municipal Government Act, each year Council must pass a balanced operating budget.
To balance its 2026-2028 Operating Budget, Council directed Town staff to undertake a detailed review of revenues and expenditures; update growth and revenue assumptions for key line items; and ensure that one-time costs were not carried forward as ongoing operating pressures.
The result is an operating budget that:
- maintains service levels while holding the line on residential property taxes;
- keeps the Town’s non-residential tax rate at a competitive $10 for every $1000 in assessed value;
- transfers $100 thousand a year into a reserve fund for a future (unspecified) recreation project; and
- transfers over $2.2 million to capital reserves to help strengthen long-term asset management.
“Residents expect reliable services and careful financial management—especially when municipalities are facing continued cost pressures,” said Town of Coaldale Mayor, Jack Van Rijn. “This budget reflects disciplined planning and a commitment to funding ongoing services, without increasing taxes on our residents and without increasing our non-residential tax rate.”
Council’s decision to hold residential property taxes at a 0% net increase in 2026 comes amid ongoing cost pressures affecting municipalities across the region. By comparison, residents in the City of Lethbridge will see another 5.1% increase to the municipal portion of their property taxes in 2026 while residents in Lethbridge County will see a 3% increase. Residents in nearby Coalhurst, meanwhile, are facing a projected 3.7% increase on their property tax bills while residents in the City of Medicine Hat will see another 5.6% increase in 2026, following a 5.6% increase in 2025.
At the same time, Council’s decision to keep the non-residential tax rate steady will at once provide Coaldale businesses with a stable, predictable tax environment and help maintain Coaldale’s competitive advantage in the region. “It’s important to recognize that by keeping the non-residential municipal tax rate at $10.00 per $1,000 of assessed value, Coaldale will continue to offer one of the most competitive business tax environments in southern Alberta,” said Cameron Mills, Deputy CAO and Director of Growth and Investment for the Town of Coaldale. “Based on the Town’s most recent regional comparison, Coaldale’s commercial mill rate remains approximately 10% lower than Taber’s and less than half of Lethbridge’s. Those are big, meaningful differences when it comes to deciding where you want to spend capital and build a business.”
To view the Town’s 2026-2028 Operating Budget, click here.
The Town’s 2026-2030 Capital Budget was approved in December, 2025, and includes funding for a number of major projects such as:
- upgrades to Pinnacle Park (2026); and
- the installation of traffic signals at the intersection of Highway 3 and 8th Street (2026-2027).