2026 Budget

In preparing the annual budget each year, we draw on input from residents to help guide our decisions. This approach reflects Council’s ongoing commitment to maintaining High River as a vibrant community with strong services, programs, and infrastructure. The operating budget covers day-to-day expenses while the capital budget covers long-term investments, including maintaining infrastructure and facility costs. All of which follows an annual review of our Five-Year Capital Budget.

Council has adopted the 2026 interim budget, which sets spending at 75 per cent of the 2025 operating budget. This interim budget will remain in effect until Council approves the full 2026 operating budget. 

Upon approval, Council sets municipal tax rates to generate revenue needed to offset municipal service expenditures with the annual Property Tax Rate Bylaw, passed each spring.

2026 Budget Deliberations and Supporting Documents

The 2026 budget was discussed at special Committee of the Whole meetings on Jan. 14, 15, 19 and 21. Below are the presentations that were delivered and the documents that were reviewed and discussed at these meetings.

• Budget Deliberations January 14 Presentation
• Special Committee of the Whole Budget Discussions Jan. 14, 2026
• Budget Deliberations January 15 Presentation
• Special Committee of the Whole Budget Discussions Jan. 15, 2026
• Budget Deliberations January 19 Presentation 
• Special Committee of the Whole Budget Discussions Jan. 19, 2026
• Budget Deliberations January 21 Presentation
• Special Committee of the Whole Budget Discussions Jan. 21, 2026
• 2026 Operating Budget - Town of High River
• 2026 Capital Budget - Town of High River
• Town of High River Project Proposals List
• Aquatics Staffing Brief
• Gift of Music Funding Request
• Library Funding Request
• Budget Briefing Report 2026
• Handibus Funding
• 2026 Budget Report
• 2026 Budget Briefs
• Council Budget Briefing - 2026 Employee Compensation