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Ponoka Town Council Approves 2026 Budget

Ponoka Town Council approved the 2026 Town of Ponoka Budget at its regular meeting this week.

“Council and Administration once again delivered a lean and fiscally responsible budget that reflects all of Council’s strategic priorities, including carefully managing spending and continuing to fund the essential services that our citizens depend on,” said Town of Ponoka Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Sandra Lund.

The total amount of the 2026 Budget is $39.6 million, which includes an Operating Budget of $24.1 million and a Capital Budget of $15.5 million. That represents a municipal property tax increase of two per cent which is lower than inflationary cost increases and equates to an annual municipal property tax increase of approximately $17.73 per $100,000 of assessment for residential and $23.14 per $100,000 of non-residential properties.

Education Tax Increase Frustrates Council

“While Council worked very hard to keep property taxes as low as possible, we are once again frustrated to learn that the provincial government – for the second year in a row – has increased the education tax by 11 per cent for Ponoka residents. Last year, they increased it by 10.8 per cent. That results in a significant increase to the annual property tax bill that residents receive from the Town,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson, noting there are no new schools being built in Ponoka.

He explained that the Town is required to collect the provincial education tax as part of the overall property tax bill it sends to residents each year. Money collected through the education tax is then sent directly to the provincial government.

“When residents get their property tax bill, they tend to just look at the total amount owing. Council wants them to know that roughly a quarter of the increase in their residential property taxes is due to the education tax increase; and more than a third of the increase in non-residential property taxes is due to the education tax,” said Mayor Ferguson.

Investing in Infrastructure

In addition to funding all of the essential services that the Town delivers to the community, such as clean drinking water, curbside collection of waste, recreation facilities, fire services and policing, the 2026 Budget also invests in maintaining and upgrading key infrastructure in the community to enhance quality of life and to support future growth.

Some of the operating, capital and infrastructure projects funded by the 2026 Budget include:

  • Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements – The Town is planning major upgrades to its wastewater treatment facility to be completed in phases to meet new provincial regulatory requirements and position the Town for future growth;
  • Highway 53 Improvements – The Town is working in partnership with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors to complete Highway 53 improvements in Ponoka. This will include upgrades to the 46 Street intersection (paving, concrete, signal lights, lighting, underground utility and electrical work, and realignment of that intersection) and connecting the trail along Highway 53 to the river valley trail system at 46 Street;
  • Ponoka’s Annual Roadway Improvement Program – This provides annual maintenance and improvement of Town roadways and sidewalks throughout the community;
  • Waterworks System Improvements –This includes storm sewer system maintenance, sanitary sewer maintenance and planning for future replacement of the Town’s sanitary trunk main to ensure optimum operational efficiency and reliability of the system;
  • Wi-Fi Installation at Outdoor Facilities – This will provide facility users with free Wi-Fi access at Lions Centennial Park, the ball diamonds behind the Ponoka Arena Complex and the soccer fields at Lucas Heights, which is needed to continue attracting provincial tournaments to these facilities.

2026 Budget Aligns with Public Consultation Results

The 2026 Budget aligns with the results of the Town’s annual public consultation process, which included Coffee with Council events, an online Budget Open House and a Citizen Input Survey that invited Ponoka citizens to give their input on top priorities they wanted Town Council to consider in the budget.

The top three priorities identified by citizens included:

  • Infrastructure
  • Recreation
  • Community Safety

“Citizen input is a critical part of the budget planning process,” said Mayor Ferguson. He noted that public input and priorities identified in the budget survey results were carefully considered and addressed in the 2026 Budget through ongoing upgrades and improvements to Town infrastructure, including roads and sidewalks throughout Ponoka; completion of trail improvements along Highway 53; and continued ongoing investment in Protective Services to support public safety in partnership with the Ponoka RCMP.

“I think this budget does a very good job of balancing the needs of our community while positioning Ponoka for continued growth and success,” said Mayor Ferguson.