Town of Ponoka Council Meeting Highlights - April 28, 2026

These Council highlights are intended to provide a brief overview of the most significant decisions made during the Council meeting. To access more information about the items listed below and to view the full Council meeting agendas, minutes and meeting schedules, please click here.

Regular Meeting of Council:

6.1      Policy CP-16 Purchasing Cards

Council approved the Purchasing Cards Policy, which will be followed by the implementation of Purchasing Cards for the Town. Purchasing Cards will streamline transactions for items of low value, and for other items, such as registration for seminars and conferences, and international or internet purchases.

7.1      2025 Town of Ponoka Audited Financial Statements

Council approved the audited financial statements as presented. The statements will be submitted to the Minister of Municipal Affair and posted on the Town website in the coming days.

7.2      2026 Final Budget Presentation

Council approved the 2026 Final Operating and Capital budgets with a total source of funding for operating and capital of $24.1 million and $15.5 million respectively for a combined total of $39.6 million.

The 2026 Interim Budget was approved by Council in December 2025. Since that time, all requisitions and final municipal property assessments have been received and incorporated into the tax calculations in the final 2026 Budget.

7.3      Land Use Bylaw Amendment No. 03-2026

Council approved the first reading to Bylaw No. 03-2026 and selected Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. as the date for a public hearing. The amendments to the Town of Ponoka Land Use Bylaw (LUB) are to accommodate a development proposal on lands currently designated as Central Commercial District (C1).

7.4      2026 Seniors’ Week Declaration

Council proclaimed the week of June 1 to 7, as Seniors’ Week in the Town of Ponoka.

To learn more about Seniors' Week, please visit the Alberta Government website by clicking here.

7.5      National Public Works Week Proclamation

Council proclaimed the week of May 17 to 23, as National Public Works Week in the Town of Ponoka. The 2026 theme is ‘Rooted in Service, Powered by Community.’

To learn more about National Public Works Week, please click here. 

7.7      Bylaw No. 07-2026 Tax Rate Bylaw

Council approved the first reading of Tax Rate Bylaw No. 07-2026, which sets out the rates of taxation for the 2026 year.

The Town of Ponoka proposed municipal tax increase of 2 per cent equates to an increase of approximately $17.73 per $100,000 of assessment for residential and $23.14 per $100,000 for non-residential properties.
In the annual property tax notice that residents receive from the Town of Ponoka each year, the Town is required to collect:

• the municipal property tax,
• the Alberta Government’s education tax,
• Rimoka Housing Foundation requisition and
• designated industrial property tax requisition.
  
  

The Government of Alberta has increased the education tax for Ponoka residents by 11 per cent again this year. This equates to an increase of approximately $6.30 per $100,000 for assessment and $13.89 per $100,000 for non-residential properties. In 2025, the provincial government increased the education property tax by 10.8 per cent.

Residential assessment of properties in the Town of Ponoka increased by $71.4 million, and non-residential assessment increased by $23.4 million for a total overall increase of $94.8 million over the 2025 assessment.

13       Closed Session

Council passed a motion to amend the approved 2026 Final Budget to reinstate the $21,000 for the increase to OOS Health & Wellness, and reduce the transfer to the Utility Reserve to maintain a proposed two per cent property tax increase.

Next Regular Council Meeting: Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m.

• The public is welcome to attend all Council meetings. Meetings are held in Town Council Chambers on the third floor of the Ponoka Civic Centre (5604 50 Street).