Town of Kindersley council approves 2026 budget, no tax increase

By Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Your West Central Voice

The Town of Kindersley council approved their 2026 budget, kept service levels the same, are planning for capital projects and all the while managed it with no tax increase. The 2026 operating and capital budgets were approved at the Apr. 20 regular council meeting.

The Town of Kindersley council approved their 2026 budget, kept service levels the same, are planning for capital projects and all the while managed it with no tax increase. The 2026 operating and capital budgets were approved at the Apr. 20 regular council meeting. Screenshot

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Marty Baroni presented councillors with the draft 2026 operating and capital budgets, noting that councillors had discussed budgets over four or five meetings plus a special council meeting just for that purpose in April.

Baroni noted that staff were recommending the Town of Kindersley keep its 2026 mill rate the same as 2025, in effect resulting in no tax increase to any property classes. However, Baroni did point out that a property tax bill is comprised of more than a mill rate, and that assessment value also plays a role. Therefore, he noted that if property owners saw their assessment go up in 2026, they will likely see their tax bill go up too.

The CAO also noted staff will include a "budget highlights" sheet with tax notices so the public knows where the budget is being spent this year.

Mayor Ken Francis stated the zero increase budget was the result of a lot of planning and work. "We really worked hard to try to keep the level of service up," said Francis. The mayor added that capital projects like the water tower are expensive and town staff did a great job providing councillors with budget information. As well, the mayor noted he's happy to see service levels stay the same in Kindersley without taxes going up.

During discussion councillors noted that among the projects budgeted this summer is the completion of Main Street, with it observed that the public was likely very happy to see that finished.

Councillors unanimously approved the 2026 operating and capital budgets.

Later in the meeting councillors considered the 2026 mill rate bylaw which gives authority to collect taxes to pay their newly approved budget.

The mayor reiterated that since the mill rate was staying the same, tax bills should remain the same too. "So in essence, no tax increase or decrease, same as last year?" to which the CAO responded positively.

Councillors passed all readings of the 2026 mill rate bylaw to bring it into effect.