Municipal policing costs to go up in 2026 due to inflation: Alberta

RCMP (file photo)

The Alberta government will be raising municipal contributions of front-line policing costs in the new year, saying communities are paying less than their intended share.

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“As policing costs continue to rise, Alberta is updating its police funding model to ensure essential front-line policing services remain effective and sustainable for rural and small communities,” said a statement from the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services.

Starting in the 2026-27 fiscal year, municipalities will cover 22 per cent of front-line policing costs, returning gradually to 30 per cent over the next five years.

The funding model was introduced in 2020 to create a framework for communities with populations less than 5,000 to contribute up to 30 per cent of front-line policing costs under the Provincial Police Service Agreement.

The province said the contributions are based on outdated 2018 costs resulting in municipalities contributing only 19 per cent of costs.

“Due to higher costs following RCMP collective agreements, inflation and additional positions enabled by the police funding model, policing expenses in smaller communities have risen by 57 per cent without any notable changes to service levels,” said the ministry.

Alberta pays 70 per cent of provincial police funding with the federal government covering 30 per cent.

Municipalities contributed about $67.3 million in 2024-25 with the province contributing approximately $332.3 million.

Changes to the model will come into effect on April 1.