Population
25,779
Land Area
3,670.12
haAnnual Operating Budget
$64.5M
expensesTrends and Profile
Foothills County Population Trend
Annual estimates, 2016–2025
Fiscal Trends (2021–2024)
Revenue and expense per person over 4 years
Fiscal Report Card
These metrics reflect reported financial data and do not capture local context such as major infrastructure investments, one-time grants, natural disasters, or policy decisions. Learn more
Fiscal Trajectory
51.2
scoreFiscal trajectory score of 51.2 is above the band average of 50.0, placing this municipality among improving peers.
Fiscal Balance
$294
/ personOperating surplus of $294/person is 0.5× the band average of $624. Ranks 37th of 48 in the band.
Tax Burden
$1,778
/ personPer-person taxation of $1,778 is 8% above the band average. Residents contribute $139 more per person than typical peers.
Debt Load
11.6%
capacity usedLiability servicing capacity used is 11.6%, leaving significant room for strategic borrowing if needed.
Revenue Resilience
15.0%
grant dependencyGrant dependency of 15.0% is above the band average of 12.2%. More reliant on transfers than typical peers.
Service Efficiency
$2,503
/ personTotal spending of $2,503/person is $397 below the band average, ranking 25th of 48 for service efficiency.
What's Driving These Numbers
Tax Revenue by Property Class
How the annual municipal tax levy is split across property classes. A higher residential share means homeowners carry more of the tax burden.
Share of total municipal tax levy by property class (Commercial and Industrial combined)
Annual Homeowner Cost
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
A typical homeowner pays $3,252/year — 83% below the band average of $19,046.
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
Learn more ↗Estimated taxes on a median-value home
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
A typical homeowner pays $3,252/year — 83% below the band average of $19,046.
Learn more ↗$3,252 / yr
Estimated taxes on a median-value home
Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.
A typical homeowner pays $3,252/year — 83% below the band average of $19,046.
Residential Tax Base
Share of assessed property value from residential
84.9% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 81.2%.
Learn more ↗Share of assessed property value from residential
84.9% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 81.2%.
Learn more ↗84.9%
Share of assessed property value from residential
84.9% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 81.2%.
Population Growth
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 8.7% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 8.7% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Learn more ↗+8.7%
Change over 5 years (2020–2025)
Population grew 8.7% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 10.2%.
Development Activity
Building permit data not available
Revenue Breakdown / person
Expense Breakdown / person
Peer Comparison
Comparing against 22 municipalities in the 15,000-50,000 band.
| Municipality | Type | Population▼ | Rev/Cap | Exp/Cap | Surplus/Cap | Debt/Cap | Tax Bill | Tax Coll. % | Liab. Used % | 5yr Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Grove | D | 44,575 | $3,439 | $2,711 | $728 | $1,801 | $1,231 | 96.4% | 25.8% | +14.6% |
| Leduc | D | 39,966 | $5,370 | $3,455 | $1,915 | $2,067 | $1,310 | 97.4% | 26.0% | +17.1% |
| Cochrane | T | 39,397 | $2,524 | $2,134 | $390 | $1,223 | $940 | 96.6% | 20.2% | +22.8% |
| Parkland County | D | 34,286 | $3,635 | $3,073 | $561 | $1,312 | $1,100 | 96.0% | 13.0% | +3.4% |
| Okotoks | T | 33,482 | $3,162 | $2,491 | $671 | $615 | $1,061 | 96.4% | 6.7% | +8.5% |
| Chestermere | D | 31,671 | $2,230 | $1,432 | $798 | $54 | $864 | 92.8% | 2.8% | +41.9% |
| Fort Saskatchewan | D | 30,575 | $4,047 | $3,148 | $898 | $636 | $1,028 | 98.7% | 11.3% | +11.0% |
| Grande Prairie No. 1, County of | D | 26,701 | $5,448 | $5,260 | $188 | $925 | $1,816 | 97.7% | 19.4% | — |
| Beaumont | D | 26,305 | $2,405 | $2,472 | -$67 | $1,377 | $1,536 | 94.9% | 21.9% | +27.9% |
| Foothills County | D | 25,779 | $2,797 | $2,503 | $294 | $383 | $3,252 | 93.4% | 11.6% | +8.7% |
| Red Deer County | D | 22,076 | $4,202 | $4,015 | $188 | $956 | $722,106 | 93.9% | 19.9% | +4.9% |
| Lloydminster | D | 21,295 | $6,757 | $5,149 | $1,607 | $2,931 | $1,161 | 93.6% | 21.9% | +2.5% |
| Sturgeon County | D | 21,035 | $6,405 | $4,928 | $1,477 | $1,675 | $1,068 | 97.9% | 13.3% | +0.9% |
| Camrose | D | 20,801 | $3,310 | $2,476 | $834 | $1,309 | $1,305 | 97.5% | 19.8% | +5.6% |
| Stony Plain | T | 19,662 | $3,417 | $2,830 | $586 | $1,496 | $1,143 | 95.7% | 20.5% | +7.6% |
| Sylvan Lake | T | 17,897 | $3,469 | $2,693 | $776 | $1,752 | $1,266 | 95.7% | 22.6% | +10.3% |
| Cold Lake | D | 17,815 | $3,865 | $3,805 | $60 | $2,705 | $1,255 | 94.2% | 30.2% | +10.1% |
| Brooks | D | 17,537 | $2,034 | $2,032 | $2 | $153 | $1,127 | 92.5% | 4.4% | +15.5% |
| Canmore | T | 17,341 | $6,221 | $4,457 | $1,764 | $3,201 | $947 | 97.9% | 25.7% | +10.4% |
| Strathmore | T | 16,416 | $2,593 | $2,380 | $213 | $849 | $1,042 | 96.5% | 26.3% | +9.7% |
| Leduc County | D | 16,400 | $5,522 | $4,906 | $616 | $2,404 | $760 | 98.0% | 25.5% | +16.0% |
| High River | T | 15,518 | $3,170 | $2,574 | $595 | $226 | $990 | 96.4% | 12.4% | +10.0% |