City Council to Consider 2026 Property Tax Plan

Prince Albert City Council will consider the proposed 2026 Property Tax Plan at an upcoming City Council meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026. The plan addresses the $3,489,069 required to balance the City’s approved operating and capital budgets and reserve allocations. The proposed changes include a 2.03% increase in the general municipal levy and a net $12 base/special tax increase for residential properties for fire, policing, snow, and roadway operations.

“Increasing the base tax recognizes that every property benefits equally from essential services like fire, police, and roads,” says George Marshall, CFO for the City of Prince Albert. “This ensures that the overall tax system is fairer and more balanced for everyone.”

Following Budget Committee decisions in November 2025 and a detailed review of departmental spending, the overall taxation requirement for 2026 was reduced by $1.1M, leaving $3,489,069 to be funded through property taxes.

“We know many households are still feeling the effects of prolonged inflation, and we’ve worked hard to keep the impact as low as possible. Our focus remains on what residents have asked for: safety, better services, and a city that continues to grow with a stable foundation for the future. By continuing this approach, we are committed to ensuring Prince Albert is a city of opportunity and belonging; a community we are proud to call home,” says Mayor Bill Powalinsky.

Because 2026 is not a revaluation year, assessed property values will not see the same significant changes experienced during the 2025 revaluation.

Cost Drivers for the 2026 Budget

• $524,300 – Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre operations (including savings from Frank Dunn and Dave G. Steuart arenas)
• $2.51M – Salaries, wages, and benefits across City departments
• $723,853 – Prince Albert Police Service funding increase
• $1M – 6th Avenue Viaduct Bridge Rehabilitation

Administration has evaluated all available tax tools and made recommendations. The proposed changes include:

General Municipal Levy: Increase from 13.943 to 14.226 mills, representing a 2.03% increase.

Base Tax Increase: Residential base tax will increase by $35, multi-residential by $9, and commercial properties will see a 5% increase applied on a sliding scale.

Snow Management Special Tax: Residential and multi-residential properties will see a $1 increase for the Snow Management Special Tax, while commercial properties will see a 1% increase applied on a sliding scale.

Roadways Special Tax: Residential will see an increase of $11, and Multi-Residential will see an increase of $3 in the Roadways Special Tax, while Commercial properties will increase on a sliding scale by 5%.

Police Special Tax: Council has eliminated the Police Special Tax, resulting in a $35-per-door decrease for all residential and commercial properties.

Minimum Tax: The minimum tax will increase from $900 to $975, applying to properties whose general municipal levy is below that threshold and adjusting them up to $975 depending on assessed value, while the Vacant Residential Land Minimum Tax will remain unchanged at $1,600 to fund the Vacant Lot Program and is not used for general budget balancing.

Library Levy: Increase from 0.814 mills to 0.819 mills to support the approved budget for the Prince Albert Public Library.

Civic Facilities Levy: Decrease 0.522 mills to 0.495 mills to support the approved budget.

The Residential Property Impact

The proposed impact on residential properties will be as follows:

^{*Taxable Value is 80% of the Assessed Value.}

If approved on Monday, April 20, 2026, Tax Notices will be printed and mailed during the last week of May. Property taxes will be due on June 30, 2026.

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For more information, contact:

Mayor Bill Powalinsky
306.953.4300