Property taxes are climbing by $311 for the average Cochrane household—but before you lash out at town council, this time it’s not their fault.
A 20 per cent increase in the provincial education tax accounts for $274 of the hike, while the town’s 1.51 per cent increase amounts to a modest $39. There’s also been a $3 reduction in the levy collected for the Rocky View Foundation, which provides subsidized seniors' housing.
All in, the total tax bill for the average single-family home in Cochrane is $4,310, up from $4,000 last year. Of that amount, $2,623 goes to the municipality, $1,643 to the province, and $44 to the Rocky View Foundation.
A lower rate continues to apply to four properties annexed by the town in July 2019. As part of the annexation agreement, they will continue to be assessed at the Rocky View County mill rate until 2030.
Mayor Jeff Genung voiced frustration that town council is bearing the brunt of criticism for a tax increase largely beyond its control.
Mayor Jeff Genung was among those voting frustration with how town councillor will take the brunt of the criticism for a tax increase that this time was beyond their control.
“Our provincial government marketed a tax reduction, and then increased taxes at the same time,” Genung said. “Not only are they downloading the education property taxes onto municipalities, they get to celebrate that win while we collect their increase over here.”
Coun. Morgan Nagel agreed the situation is unfair but also criticized the town’s 2025 budget. He voted against the tax rate alongside Coun. Marni Fedeyko.
“When we had our budget discussion in the fall, I was not very supportive of the budget—specifically because of the tax increase where we landed,” said Nagel. “It could have been much worse, but it still could have been lower.”
Council had originally approved a budget expected to result in a 2.63 per cent increase, but that figure was later reduced following completion of the supplementary assessment.
Utility rates for the average household were also increased by $86.16 per year.
Taxes are based on property assessments. Only 15 per cent is collected from the limited amount of non-residential property in the community, while the remaining 85 per cent falls on residential properties in our bedroom community.
The average assessment for a single-family dwelling increased by $65,200, or 10.59 per cent, to $680,700 for tax purposes in 2025.