After four days of intense debate, Edmonton City Council has finalized its budget, cementing a 6.9 per cent property tax increase for residents. The final day of talks on Thursday, December 4, 2025, saw councillors approve two major, and at times contentious, projects: widening Whitemud Drive and funding a new team of peace officers to crack down on speeding and traffic violations.
Key Budget Decisions and Close Votes
The amended operating and capital budgets passed with an 11-2 vote, with Councillors Michael Elliott and Karen Principe casting the only votes against. The session was marked by significant discussions on how to balance city services with affordability for taxpayers.
Mayor Andrew Knack framed the budget as a necessary correction. "This is the last of a four-year budget and a lot of this was pre-determined," Knack stated. He emphasized that the city is working to stabilize tax rates after a period of historically low increases followed by recent highs, addressing long-standing structural budget issues.
Whitemud Drive Expansion Gets Green Light
In a narrow 7-6 vote, council approved a motion from Councillor Thu Parmar to use funds from the city's financial stabilization reserve. This money will advance a joint project with the Province of Alberta and Enoch Cree Nation to expand Whitemud Drive, a critical artery for commuter traffic. The close vote underscored the project's significance and the difficult choices involved in allocating reserve funds.
New Traffic Enforcement Team to Target Speeders
A central pillar of the budget's public safety focus is a new $5.8 million traffic safety enforcement team, funded through fine revenue. The motion passed 8-5. Mayor Knack argued this initiative is a direct response to overwhelming constituent concern, calling traffic safety a "No. 1 issue" raised in communities across the city.
Knack explained that provincial laws limit the city's ability to increase fines or direct police resources specifically to traffic enforcement, making a dedicated municipal peace officer unit the most viable tool. Jessica Lamare, the city's Safe Mobility Director, noted that a comparable unit in Calgary has operated close to cost-neutral. Chief Bylaw Officer David Jones assured council that the officers will focus solely on traffic infractions, with police handling any criminal matters encountered during stops.
Due to the time required for hiring and training, the new enforcement team is not expected to be operational on Edmonton roads until approximately December 2026.
Looking Ahead: A Budget of Priorities
The 2025 budget deliberations highlight the council's efforts to navigate competing priorities: maintaining essential services, investing in critical infrastructure like Whitemud Drive, and responding to urgent public safety concerns regarding speeding. The locked-in 6.9 per cent tax increase reflects the cost of these decisions, as council opted against proposals that would have pushed the hike past nine per cent. The city now moves into the implementation phase, with residents seeing the direct impacts of these votes on both their tax bills and their daily commutes in the year ahead.
