Red Deer District Chamber calls for reduced city expenses ahead of budget debate
The Red Deer District Chamber is responding to the City of Red Deer’s 2025 Draft Budget with a call to reduce tax supported operational expenses by three per cent.
Chamber representatives say this recommendation represents a balanced approach that acknowledges the “significant” amount of work the city could do to improve efficiency and manage costs; A three per cent reduction would save about $9-10 million, says the Chamber.
“We have looked closely at the city’s financial position for 2025 and believe it is essential to consider further expense reductions alongside property tax increases,” says Chamber CEO Scott Robinson. “The City of Red Deer faces a significant deficit, as revenues have fallen short of expenses over the past few years. While we agree that the city must address this imbalance and reduce its reliance on reserves and utility dividends to balance the budget, we believe that the full financial burden should not fall solely on taxpayers and property owners.”
Related: Red Deer releases draft 2025 budget