Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis has denied a request from the Town of Mayerthorpe to temporarily defer increased policing costs for 2026 and 2027.
The Government of Alberta announced changes to the Police Funding Model (PFM) in December 2025. For Mayerthorpe, the changes are projected to increase policing costs by 320 per cent over the next five years.
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A delegation of town council members travelled to Edmonton on March 16 to discuss this challenge with Minister Ellis.
The mayor and council presented an overview of the financial impact the increase would have on the community, and emphasized that those increases “far exceed” standard inflationary growth.
The town says the change is excessive, unsustainable and would put a burden on residents.
Mayor Allen Malcolm requested a deferral to allow the town to adjust its budget and explore options to responsibly accommodate the change. The request was denied.
“We made it clear that this level of increase is not manageable without placing undue strain on our taxpayers,” said Malcolm. “While we are disappointed with the outcome, we remain committed to advocating for fair and sustainable solutions.”
Council will work with Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) to continue advocacy, while collaborating with regional partners to address the financial challenge.
The town will also reportedly participate in Property Taxes Reimagined: Fair Funding for Strong Communities initiative, which brings together municipalities across Alberta to advance a more equitable funding framework. An update on this working group is expected to be provided at the ABmunis fall convention.
