Prince Albert city council debated the proposed property and special tax bylaws for 2026 at Monday night’s council meeting, although a final decision wasn’t reached on all of them. Since councillors found themselves on opposite ends of the issue, a decision to move to a third reading wasn’t passed. A third reading requires unanimous consent. “What we’re working hard to do, as you heard tonight, was to keep the increases as minimal as possible and yet not have to cut back services,” Mayor Bill Powalinsky told CTV News after the meeting. “There was some discussion tonight about splitting out the different funds to deal with them independently.” The proposed increase to residential property tax in 2026 is $77 annually for properties assessed at $120,000. Properties assessed at $450,000 would see a $255 annual jump. This includes a 2025 base and special tax increase related to fire, policing, snow, and roadway operations- which amounts to $12 for each residential property. “The different special taxes are important to ensure that we have those budgets set aside for roadways or snow management,” said Ward 6 Coun. Blake Edwards. However, Ward 4 Coun. Bryce Laewetz criticized the use of the base tax. “I don’t like that we continue to target the base tax because it disproportionately affects people in the lower middle class and lower income rates,” he said. “I do appreciate that we want to spread this throughout everyone’s shoulders so the whole community picks up equally, but I don’t think that that’s equitable.” City administration says these increases are part of a proposed tax plan intended to address the additional $3.5 million needed to balance the city’s approved operating and capital budgets and reserve allocations. Council requested a report from administration on the current taxation framework with options to simplify it before the 2027 budget deliberations this fall. The bylaws could be approved at the next council meeting scheduled for Wednesday. If council gives the green light, the city says the 2026 property tax rates will be posted on the property tax website.
