'Balancing act': City juggles split views and steep costs in budget feedback

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal NewsPolitics 'Balancing act': City juggles split views and steep costs in budget feedback "Everyone agrees that we should be focusing on core services, but nobody agrees on what core services are." Author of the article: By Liam Newbigging Published Sep 08, 2026 4 minute read Join the conversation City councillors heard results from sweeping city-wide budget feedback for the first time on Tuesday. While there were some common themes, like a longing for better road maintenance and a desire to keep taxes low without impacting services, the report also showed people were split on where to put money in the next four-year budget. PHOTO BY SHAUGHN BUTTS /Postmedia Article content While Edmonton city planners wrestle with split feedback on several big items in the upcoming budget, the shadow of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump begins to loom over the city’s books. Article content City councillors heard results from sweeping city-wide budget feedback for the first time on Tuesday. Article content Article content There were some common themes, like a longing for better road maintenance and a desire to keep taxes low without impacting services. However, the report also showed people were split on where to put money in the next four-year budget. Article content Article content Respondents had mixed feelings about whether or not to reduce funding for police, public transit, bike lanes, and infill. And while most Edmontonians expressed a desire to get back to basics in the budget, what those basic services look like differed widely from person to person. Article content Headline News Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content “Everyone agrees that we should be focusing on core services, but nobody agrees on what core services are,” said Ward O’day-min Coun. Anne Stevenson. “I think that really speaks to the diversity of needs in our community.” Article content Article content Mixed messages Article content The nearly 50-page report on the city’s months-long budget feedback process said there were “complex tensions” that emerged, which the city administration and council must “navigate with care.” Article content In that report, police spending had…