Red Deer councillors suggest cuts and additions to proposed budget

“The intention is to bring this back as one complete picture so council has an idea of how this all fits,” the city clerk said.

It’s anticipated that council will be able to debate most of them individually before voting on which ones stay or go.

Council proposed various changes before wrapping up discussion on day one. Below are some of the proposed changes; however, not all of them are included in the story.

Councillor Kraymer Barnstable said he couldn’t support a tax rate increase that’s over five per cent.

He made a number of suggestions, including reducing the amount of contributions to operating reserve tax supported from $10.5 million to $6.5 million. He also proposed to reduce the amount of funding for spray parks, mowing, and outdoor rinks, as well as the urban forest preservation budget. Finally, he wanted to reduce salaries and wages by $1 million.

“Basically, what that would bring us to is based on our new number this morning of 6.89 per cent. If all of that went forward, it would bring our tax rate down to 4.04 per cent,” he said.

Councillor Dianne Wyntjes suggested that the city provide $50,000 direct annual grant to Sunnybook Farm Museum and that the city and farm have conversations throughout the year to assess 2027 direct operating needs.

She also called for a one-time $60,000 grant to the Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre. Wyntjes also suggested that city administration determine street locations within close proximity to provide downtown patrons with up to three hours of free parking in downtown Red Deer, which would begin in May 2026. She also wants city administration to look into downtown beautification.

Councillor Tristin Brisbois said Red Deer has been living beyond its means for quite some time.

“We have the highest expenses in the province and also the highest debt per capita, so that kind of leaves not a lot of levers to pull in terms of what we can do to get us in a better position if we don’t start reducing our expenses,” she said.

Brisbois agreed with Branstable that a maximum five per cent tax rate is her line in the sand. She proposed a cap of four per cent on the wage and salary budget.

Councillor Cassandra Curtis shared with council that two people froze to death in the last week and proposed adding $100,000 to the budget for warming spaces.

Meantime, Councillor Adam Goodwin said it would be hard for him to support anything higher than a 4.2 per cent tax rate increase.

Councillor Bruce Buruma proposed ongoing funding of $250,000 per year for Tourism Red Deer.

Councillor Chad Krahn said a five per cent tax rate hike would be as high as he’ll go. He also suggested that proposed that Red Deer leave the Central Alberta Economic Partnership and use the $90,000 that would be sent by the city towards the ad hoc economic development committee.

These suggestions came after a new starting point was brought forward by administration for a proposed property tax increase of 6.89 per cent, which was decreased by 0.47 per cent from 7.36 per cent because of an $800,000 construction growth estimate.

by Ian Gustafson

Red Deer councillors suggest cuts and additions to proposed budget

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