Council Meeting Highlights - November 4, 2026

Regular Council Meeting

Meeting date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026

In attendance: Mayor Fule, Councillor Brown, Councillor Chisholm, Councillor Hyde, Councillor Langmaid, Deputy Mayor Wegener (virtual), and Councillor Wiley

BUSINESS

2027-2030 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget

• CAO Scoble shared that the 2027 Proposed Budget is about finding the right balance between affordability today and financial sustainability for the future. Administration has worked to develop a budget that responds to the needs of a growing community, maintains the services residents rely on, and continues to strengthen the Town’s long-term financial position.
• Council was encouraged to view it not simply as a one-year financial plan, but as part of a longer-term strategy for managing growth and ensuring Strathmore remains financially sustainable.
• For the 2027 Budget, Administration proposed spending slightly more on operations, significantly less on capital projects, and allocating more funding to reserves in 2027. The result is an overall proposed expenditure budget of approximately $51.47 million, or about $1.5 million lower than 2026.
• While operating remains the largest component of the budget, operating expenditures appear to be relatively stable year over year.
• The more significant changes are within capital and reserve funding. During the upcoming detailed budget deliberations, Administration will identify what is driving those changes and how they support the Town’s service delivery, infrastructure requirements and long-term financial sustainability, all while address Council’s Strategic Priorities.

Next steps for the 2027 Budget:

2026 Tax Arrears Auction – Results and Minutes

• The Municipal Government Act (MGA) allows municipalities to conduct tax auctions on properties in arrears for more than two years. The Town of Strathmore conducted the tax auction for these properties on October 15, 2026.
• There were three properties listed on the auction list and the Town auctioned off two of them for a combined $332,415. The tax in arrears on the sold properties were $14,977.28 combined. Completion of sale is contingent on payment within 30 days of the public auction date.
• Council were presented with, and accepted the results of the auction as a recommended best practice from Municipal Affairs Guide to Tax Recovery in Alberta.

Following an in-camera session Council made the following Resolutions:

• Council supported the early approval of a 2027 business case for the establishment of a Communications, Marketing and Events Manager position, with funding to come from the existing funds in the 2026 operating budget.
• Council granted the bidder's withdrawal request for the property legally described as Plan 2461; Block 2; Lot 1-4, which was auctioned off at the 2026 Tax Auction on October 15, 2026.
• Council approved the following starting points for funding allocations to be included for discussion in the 2027 Operating Budget:
  • Happy Cat Sanctuary Society of Alberta – $30,000.00
  • Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation (STARS) - $11,491.20
  • Strathmore Handi-Bus Association – $205,000.00
  • Strathmore Municipal Library Board - $435,000.00
  • Wheatland Society of Arts – $40,000.00
• Council also directed Administration to execute final funding agreements with the Happy Cat Sanctuary Society of Alberta, Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation (STARS), Strathmore Handi-Bus Association, Strathmore Municipal Library Board and Wheatland Society of Arts, once the 2027 Budget has been adopted.

*Council Highlights provide a brief review of the information given and discussions had at Strathmore Town Council Meetings. Council Highlights are not presented as official minutes of the meeting and do not include items discussed in a closed meeting.

Official meeting minutes can be accessed here. 

Watch the full meeting: 

November 4, 2026 – Regular Council Meeting - Part 1

November 4, 2026 – Regular Council Meeting - Part 2

Watch all past streams on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@TOStrathmore/streams