Sylvan Lake town council finalizes 2026 tax rate bylaw

Apr 29, 2026 | 3:06 PM

Sylvan Lake town council unanimously approved the second and third readings of the 2026 tax rate bylaw.

Council did not raise the tax rate this year; however, residents will still see their property taxes go up because of an increase in property assessment values and an increase in the provincial government’s education tax.

The town did not communicate what the overall tax rate increase would be with the education tax requisition included.

However, what we do know is the education requisition the province collects from municipalities will increase in Sylvan by $1.5 million or 18.2 per cent. The amount goes from $8.24 million in 2025 to $9.74 million this year. This money is collected by the town on behalf of the province to fund public education in Alberta.

In addition, the Sylvan Lake Foundation requisition for 2026 is increasing to $442,864 this year from the 2025 amount of $430,450.

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According to the town, in terms of property assessments, the average single-family home increased 7.5 per cent in 2026 to $448,282. They said residential assessments made up the majority of the increases, whereas commercial and non-residential assessments were up marginally since 2025.

Administration proposed the option to council that a minimum tax of $100 be applied to all properties in the town, but after questions were raised by multiple councillors, they decided to remove it from the bylaw and look into it for next year.

They unanimously approved a motion to remove it from the 2026 Tax Rate Bylaw and directed council to prepare a report on the possibility of a minimum tax rate. That report will be prepared ahead of budget deliberations for 2027 to potentially be applied for next year.

The town will send out combined assessment and taxation notices near the end of May, with the tax payment deadline set for Friday, July 31, 2026.

by Ian Gustafson

Sylvan Lake town council finalizes 2026 tax rate bylaw

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