The Town of Cochrane has begun preparing for its 2026 budget.
Town council has approved a recommendation from Chief Financial Officer Alvin Allim to base the budget on two per cent inflation and assessment growth—a formula also applied to the 2025 budget.
Additional factors to be considered include feedback from council's spring strategic session, the 2022–25 council strategic plan, the 2025 municipal election, and ongoing economic uncertainty in both Canada and the United States.
Assessment growth is expected to range between 3.5 and four per cent in 2026. For 2025, it currently sits just above 3.5 per cent and is projected to reach approximately 3.8 per cent by year’s end.
Allim’s recommendation also accounts for funding from the provincial government through the Local Government Fiscal Framework, Family and Community Support Services, the community resource centre, the family resource network, and the policing support grant.
He noted local property taxes represent 42 per cent of total revenue in the municipal budget.
Timelines have been established for budget deliberations, which is expected to be approved on Dec. 8, 2026. Additional time has been built into the schedule to allow the new council, to be elected on Oct. 20, to become familiar with the process.
Results from a public survey on budget expectations are scheduled to be presented to town council on July 7. Administration plans to present the 2026 draft budget on Oct. 31, with discussions continuing through November. Council is expected to review and debate the budget over four days that month.