1. Community well-being and social supports
Business support and local economy | Affordable housing | Support for nonprofit and social-serving community organizations | Social well-being and inclusion
Budget 2027
Each year, the City prepares a four-year operating budget and a ten-year capital budget, guided by Council’s focus areas, corporate priorities and departmental business plans. These budgets shape how the City delivers services, maintains infrastructure and plans for future growth. City budgets are reviewed, deliberated and approved by Council in the fall each year.
In Airdrie we use a modified zero-based budgeting approach to create our budgets. This approach retains the previous year’s budget as a starting point but does not assume all line items will be carried forward. Instead, we actively evaluate service levels, strategic priorities and operational needs
Provide your feedback
Explore the resident feedback tools or business survey below to share your priorities for next year's budget.
Resident feedback
Service Areas Overall
Service Areas Individually
Typical operational expenses for the City include the cost to provide services such as street cleaning, recreation, water services, streetlights, trails, pathways, playgrounds, parks, public transit, arts and culture, police, fire and municipal enforcement. The utility fund covers water and waste services.
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Provide Feedback Here
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2. Public safety and protective services
Provide Feedback HereEmergency preparedness and response | Fire response and fire prevention | Licensing and regulatory services | Crime prevention and community education | Law enforcement and patrol services
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3. Growth, planning, and environmental stewardship
Provide Feedback HereLand use planning | Business and investment attraction | Natural environment and sustainability
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4. Transportation and mobility
Provide Feedback HerePublic transit | Active transportation | Pathways planning and maintenance | Roads and traffic operations
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5. Parks, recreation and culture
Provide Feedback HereRecreation facility maintenance and operations | Recreation programs | Parks, playgrounds and outdoor amenities | Community events | Arts and cultural development
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6. Utilities, waste and recycling
Provide Feedback HereWater distribution | Wastewater collection | Stormwater management | Curbside waste and organics collection | Recycle Depot and Transfer Site
Business Survey
Capital Plan Update
Several projects from prior capital budgets will continue to advance in 2026, including:
Construction of the new fire station is underway and is scheduled to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2026.
In 2024, Council approved Phase One construction of the SW Recreation Centre. Design is underway with construction scheduled to begin in 2026.
In 2025, budget was approved to order long lead-time equipment and to secure workspace agreements needed for construction of either a forcemain, gravity sewer trunk, or combination of both, to increase sanitary carrying capacity. Project is ongoing, with detailed design in progress. Construction anticipated to start September 2026 with the overall project estimated to be complete Q2 2028.
In 2025, budget was approved to order long-lead time equipment to increase the City’s sanitary pumping capacity with the construction of the South Regional Lift Station. Construction of the lift station is scheduled for late 2026 and is directly related to the Wastewater Forcemain project above. The overall project is estimated to be complete in Q4 2028.
Capital projects identified for 2027, pending budget approval, include:
This project includes the design and construction of a new water supply connection from Calgary on the west side of the city. The new connection will strengthen the reliability of Airdrie’s water supply and provide the additional capacity needed to support the community’s continued growth.
In 2025, the City completed a Facility Needs Assessment, which included a review of the Nose Creek Valley Museum. Based on the findings of that assessment and the age of the building, renovation work is now being proposed to ensure the facility continues to serve the community safely and effectively.
Transit is proposing to add more heavy‑duty buses to support the service levels outlined in the Transit Master Plan. The plan also includes transitioning the entire local fleet to zero‑emission vehicles by 2038.
Subject to Council approval, Transit plans to install new battery chargers to support the transition to a fully zero‑emission fleet by 2038. The project includes installing nine depot chargers, which will provide charging capacity for seventeen vehicles.
In 2025, the City conducted a Facility Needs Assessment that included the Town and Country Centre. Based on the findings and the age of the building, upgrades and renovation work are now being proposed.
The City’s Utility Master Plan found that the west side needs two new pressure zones along with two reservoirs and pump stations. One of these facilities, the West Reservoir and Pump Station, will be built in the Vantage Rise community, and the City has already purchased the land. As water demands continue to grow, the City is now requesting funding to design and build the Vantage Rise (West) reservoir.
A 2023 assessment of Public Works operations reviewed current and future needs at the main works yard and the satellite site. The study found the main yard’s outdoor space is becoming limited, and the satellite site can support additional equipment and material storage. Proposed development at the satellite location includes new aggregate and general storage areas, a screening berm, removal of excess soil, placement of clean engineered fill, improved site security and power, fencing and gates, and extending fibre‑optic service along with an evaporation pond.
Next Steps
The feedback you provide here will be shared with City Staff for consideration in creating the 2027 budget. It will also be shared with Council to provide them insight into what Airdrie residents identify is important; which they can weigh alongside many other factors and provincial obligations that they must consider during budget deliberations this coming fall.
