Municipal Budget

• At Convergence YMM in June, staff on the CPI team, leaders from Wood Buffalo's social profit sector, industry and business community came together to share knowledge, exchange ideas, explore partnerships and discuss challenges and opportunities in the region.
• WinterPLAY was held February 23-March 3, 2024.
• Council and members of Administration attended the Fort Chipewyan Winter Carnival in February.
• The Municipality and ACOA received the Alberta Age Friendly Recognition Award in April.
• Alberta Health Services and the Municipality signed a new five year agreement to continue delivering emergency medical services in the region.

• Indigenous and Rural Relations (IRR) hosted a celebration for National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 at MacDonald Island Park, with members of Council attending.
• Members of Administration attended the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Gathering in January hosted by Tribal Chief Ventures Inc.
• In April, the KAIROS Blanket Exercise was facilitated by Elder Cleo Reece.  The program is a unique, interactive and participatory history lesson developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and educators to educate and create understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and promotes reconciliation.

• In an effort to provide enhanced services for the rural and Indigenous communities which supports Calls to Action 57 and 92,on September 13, the Municipality’s Rural Operations department now operates under the
  Indigenous and Rural Relations (IRR) division.

• In April, Council decided to have stronger oversight of how the work of economic development and tourism is led and supported a resolution to make the necessary changes.
• The construction phase of the Telus Purefibre rural broadband project in Chard Metis Nation and Chipewyan Prairie First Nation/Janvier is now 100% complete.

• The internal Municipal 2024 Truth and Reconciliation Challenge was expanded to include FMWBEDT, the Fort McMurray Airport and Wood Buffalo Housing to boost participation and awareness across external partners.

• Administration met with representatives from FMWBEDT to continue collaborating on ways of advancing economic growth and the role of FMWBEDT in the region.

• In July, Council approved Administration to proceed with relocating the Heritage Shipyard to a new location in consultation with the Heritage Society within the riverfront alongside Reach 6 and provide structural
  mitigation of all historical artifacts to a minimum elevation of 250.9m.

• With support from the Wood Buffalo Waterfront Advisory Committee, Administration is proceeding through the process of detailed design and tendering based on the Snye Point Area East of Hardin concept presented to Council in July 2023.
• Community and stakeholder engagement was completed as part of the review and evaluation of the Downtown Revitalization Incentive Program (DRIP).

• FireSmart Wood Buffalo made several communities more resilient to wildfire this winter through vegetation management, This work was carried out at selected sites in Fort Chipewyan, Anzac and Fort McMurray. Additionally, the FireSmart Interpretive Trail opened to the public.
• The KPMG Organizational Review report was presented to Council in February. The report contained three key deliverables: service catalogue that provides profiles of the municipal services, suggested organizational structure and opportunities for operational efficiencies.

• New training programs were rolled out including Allyship (supports wellness and psychological safety) and an enhanced
  Equipment Training Model.

• Several health and safety initiatives have been implemented including Mock Drills for Active
  Threats and Working Alone Standard.

Annually, Mayor and Council approve a one-year operating budget and a two-year financial plan, as well as a multi-year capital budget and capital plan. 

While a one-year budget is for daily operations and current development, longer term plans help for addressing larger needs over a longer period.

Budget dollars come from several different revenue sources, such as property taxes and grants from other levels of government. They also come from services provided by the Municipality like utilities, water and fees at the landfill. See your Budget Dollars at Work!

The RMWB is required by provincial law to balance its operating and capital budgets each year – which means that the money spent must be equal to the money raised. To balance the budget, the RMWB can either increase its revenues through property taxes and fees, or through managing expenses by changing or reducing the cost of services.

Operating Budget

The operating budget covers the daily or monthly expenses that keep the community functioning: everything from curbside collection and road maintenance to public transit and water.  

With the Municipality being one of the largest in Canada by geographical size, the majority of budget dollars are used to deliver a wide range of services.

Capital Budget

This portion of the budget is put towards bigger investments like buildings, equipment, roads, underground systems and other important infrastructure. This includes maintaining, rehabilitating and improving existing infrastructure and equipment.

2023 Approved Budget Plan and Financial Plan

2022 Approved Budget Plan and Financial Plan

2021 Approved Budget Plan and Financial Plan

• 2020
  • Approved 2020 Budget Summary
  • 2020 Budget Highlights
  • RMWB by the Numbers
  • 2020 Budget + Primer
  • 2020 Budget Reader's Guide
• 2019 Budget
• 2018 Budget
• 2017 Budget
• 2016 Budget