Red Deerians are encouraged to share what’s important to them in this year’s budget process.  

From roads, to parks, to infrastructure, or recreation, residents can share what they believe should be made priorities in the 2025 budget process through an online survey.  

The feedback collected through the survey, and informal in-person engagement opportunities will influence the budget decisions made by city administration and council.  

“With another challenging budget year ahead of us, it’s more important than ever that we hear from the community to understand what is important to citizens,” said Mike Olesen, General Manager of Growth and Finance. “Through our engagement, we hope to gain a better understanding of the municipal services that Red Deerians value most and how we can make sustainable funding decisions for these services.”  

The city continues to face financial pressures in 2025, with increasing costs, affordability challenges, and demand for high levels of service.   

Last year, council approved a 6.15 per cent tax increase as part of the 2024 budget process, resulting in an increase of $9.3 million in tax revenues. However, closer to $16 million was needed to balance the budget. The remaining funds were taken from reserves, leaving the reserve funds under pressure.  

“This year, our priority is to continue our focus on recovering our reserve balances while also balancing the current operating budget,” said Olesen. “To mitigate the impact to utility fees and property taxes, we are looking at ways we can reduce expenses, which may include changes to our services.”  

Click here for more information on the 2025 budget.