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The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RWMB) is proposing a $645.6 million budget for 2025. The proposed budget is now available online at rmwb.ca/council with deliberations taking place in Council Chambers on Dec.3 & 4.
“The proposed budget reflects the fact that our economic reality is much different than it was a few years ago,” says Laurie Farquharson, Chief Financial Officer.” For 2025, we are looking at a streamlined budget with a focus on efficiently delivering services with minimal new investments where public safety was identified.”
Proposed budget overview
The proposed budget of $645.6 million is comprised of $476.2 million for operations and $169.4 million to be transferred to reserves for capital. The proposed capital budget is $166.3 million with funding from grants and 2025 revenues. The overall increase in the proposed budget from last year is due to inflation and the increasing costs of material and supplies across Alberta and all of Canada.
These figures are subject to change as Council reviews and deliberates the proposed budget.
Asset management strategy supporting fiscal responsibility
The RMWB recently established an Asset Management Strategy to better manage municipal infrastructure, including maintenance and determining when assets need to be replaced. The strategy is reflected in the proposed budget and 2026-2030 financial plan. Asset management helps with long-term planning, extending the life of public buildings, roads, bridges, recreational spaces and other Municipal assets. It also enables the RMWB to manage resources and taxpayer dollars more efficiently, leading to greater fiscal responsibility.
Changes to this year’s Budget meetings
The 2025 budget meetings and deliberations will look different this year. The Chief Financial Officer will be the key presenter of the proposed operating budget, including grant requests to Council. Divisional directors will present the capital budgets for their respective areas. This change is being made to ensure budget details are presented in a consistent manner, while streamlining the process to reduce the number of days required for deliberations.
The proposed 2025 budget and all supporting documentation is being reviewed by Council ahead of deliberations and will continue to be publicly available online.
Follow the budget meetings
- Budget meetings are being held in Council Chambers at the Jubilee Building in Fort McMurray on Dec. 3 & 4, 2024.
- All meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and can be watched in-person and streamed online on the RMWB YouTube channel or at rmwb.ca/council.
- Budget meetings will also be streamed at rural Municipal offices. Community members are welcome to drop-in during regular business hours to watch the meetings.
Participating as a delegate in the budget meetings
- Community members have an opportunity to make a 5-minute verbal presentation to Council during a 30-minute delegation session at the beginning of each budget meeting.
- Anyone wishing to speak during the operating budget session, which includes the Community Investment Program, must register as a delegate by 12 p.m. (noon) on Dec. 2. For capital budget, the deadline is 12 p.m. (noon) on Dec. 3.
- To register, complete the Request to Speak form at rmwb.ca/council email Legislative.Assistants@rmwb.ca or call 780-743-7001.
- Additionally, there is an opportunity to register in person with Legislative Services before the start of each budget meeting.
Learn more about the 2025 Budget and additional resources that are available at rmwb.ca/budget.
For further information or questions, please contact Pulse at 780-743-7000, toll-free 1-800-973-9663.
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