It's Budget Season

It’s budget season in Medicine Hat, and the new City Council has just been introduced to the 2026 budget. 

Councillors got their first look at the numbers in a pair of detailed presentations outlining the City’s financial framework, major business units, and projected challenges. 

In this budget, more than $28 million from reserves and investment income will be used to fill an operating gap.

That reliance on reserves might look like smart budgeting in the short term, but it masks the true cost of municipal operations and exposes taxpayers to significant financial risks. 

Costs need to be cut somewhere!

Councillors will begin budget deliberations on November 17th at 4:00 pm, continuing again during the December 8th public meeting.

If you think Medicine Hat should focus on core priorities and live within its means, now’s the time to speak up. 

Contact your Councillors and tell them what you’d like to see cut or changed before the budget is approved.

This is the first chance for the new Council to prove they’re serious about fiscal responsibility - and the best chance for residents to make their voices heard.

At Common Sense Medicine Hat, we’ll be watching closely, breaking down the numbers, and holding City Hall accountable. 

But we can’t do it without you. 

If you believe Medicine Hat deserves a City government that focuses on core priorities and respects taxpayers, please consider making a donation today to help us keep the pressure on.