Cochrane council approves 2025-2027 budget

On December 9, 2024, Council approved the 2025 Budget, outlining Cochrane’s goals and key projects for the coming year. The budget includes $96 million for municipal operations and $85.5 million for capital projects in 2025, with a focus on sustainable growth and maintaining high-quality services for residents.

“This budget allows us to invest in Cochrane by managing growth, taking care of our infrastructure, improving community safety and expanding parks and recreation," said Mayor Genung. “These are the services we rely on every day, and we are committed to ensuring Cochrane remains a strong and vibrant place to live, both now and in the future, all while being one of the most cost-effective municipalities in the region.” Read the full media release.

The full budget document will be available for public review in early 2025. For more information, visit Cochrane.ca/budget.

Your input matters: what we heard from you

Each year we ask for your input on how to prioritize our municipal spending. This year we hired a third-party consultant to collect your feedback and make sure it was representative and statistically valid. Between April 4 to May 7, 407 of you shared your thoughts. Most respondents (54%) felt that they received good to excellent value for their property taxes and want to see service levels remain the same. Learn more about what we heard under the 'what we heard reports'.

Budget highlights: What it means for you

In line with its commitment to keeping taxes affordable, Cochrane's 2025 budget includes a 2.63% revenue requirement to support essential services and key infrastructure projects. For the average household, this translates to an additional $5.66 per month. The budget also reflects increases to water and wastewater utility costs to support the increased cost of delivering these services. The average household can expect to see an increase of approximately $7.68 per month on their utility bill.

Staffing investments in Cochrane’s 2025 budget have been strategically planned to align with the community’s growth and evolving needs. This year, the Town is introducing several critical positions to support Council’s strategic priorities and enhance service delivery. These include an Asset Management Coordinator, who will assess existing municipal assets and develop a comprehensive long-term maintenance plan, and a Housing Coordinator, dedicated to advancing affordable housing initiatives in Cochrane. Additionally, increased staffing for parks and open spaces will ensure the continued care and maintenance of the community’s beloved outdoor areas and amenities.

Key initiatives for 2025:

• Horse Creek Sports Park: Continued development through servicing of this key recreational space to enhance community amenities.
• James Walker Trail: Expansion of a major roadway to better connect areas and support Cochrane’s growing population.
• Glenpatrick Drive Infrastructure Replacement: Upgrades to aging infrastructure, improving roads and utilities.
• Hybrid transit solution: Approval of service hours for a new hybrid transit system combining fixed routes and on-demand services. This model, based on a year-long study and community feedback, aims to enhance transportation access for Cochrane residents. A detailed report will be presented in Q1 of 2025.

How your feedback was used

Public input directly influenced the budget’s priorities, driving decisions on staffing and funding new projects. You said you wanted to maintain services in a fiscally responsible way. We are adding staff at a rate consistent with population growth, ensuring we maintain service levels and support front-line operations.

View the budget info boards.