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Town Pop Band: 5,000-15,000

Slave Lake

Division No. 17 (Division No. 17)

Population

7,334

Land Area

15.09

ha

Annual Operating Budget

$26.6M

expenses

Slave Lake Population Trend

Annual population estimates sourced from BC Stats / Alberta Municipal Affairs. Used as the denominator for all per-capita metrics on this page. Learn more ↗

Annual estimates, 2016–2025

7,334+6.5% since 2016

Fiscal Trends (2021–2024)

Total revenue and total operating expenses per resident over 4 fiscal years. Shows whether the municipality's fiscal position has been improving or declining. Learn more ↗

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

Composite score (0–10) measuring the 4-year trajectory of fiscal health across revenue growth, expense control, debt reduction, and operating surplus. Higher is better. Score is relative to all municipalities in your population band. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

46.9

score
15.6% Band Min
88.5% Band Max
Band Avg: 50.0%
AB Avg: 50.0%

Fiscal trajectory score of 46.9 is below the band average of 50.0, indicating fiscal trends that warrant attention.

Rank 54/90 2021–2024 data
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Fiscal Balance

Operating surplus (revenues minus expenses) divided by population. Positive means the municipality took in more than it spent. Higher is better. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

$438

/ person
-$909 Band Min
$4,520 Band Max
Band Avg: $675
AB Avg: $930

Operating surplus of $438/person is 0.6× the band average of $675. Ranks 46th of 91 in the band.

Rank 46/91 2024 data
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Tax Burden

Own-source taxation per resident — property taxes and other local levies set by the municipality. Lower is better (lighter burden on residents). Does not include provincial school taxes. Learn more ↗
Top of Band

$1,375

/ person
$724 Band Min
$13,659 Band Max
Band Avg: $2,145
AB Avg: $2,010

Per-person taxation of $1,375 is 36% below the band average of $2,145, ranking 37th of 91 in the band.

Rank 37/91 2024 data
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Debt Load

Annual debt payments as a percentage of the provincial statutory borrowing limit. Lower is better — more room for future infrastructure borrowing. 100% = at the legal ceiling. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

18.0%

capacity used
0.0% Band Min
44.8% Band Max
Band Avg: 14.9%
AB Avg: 11.9%

Liability capacity used is 18.0%, near the band average of 14.9%. Ranking 59th of 91 in the band.

Rank 59/91 2024 data
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Revenue Resilience

Provincial and federal grants and transfers as a share of total revenue. Lower is better — the municipality is more financially self-sufficient. Note: high grant dependency may reflect dedicated capital programs, not fiscal weakness. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

14.7%

grant dependency
3.3% Band Min
46.7% Band Max
Band Avg: 16.8%
AB Avg: 23.6%

Grant dependency of 14.7% is below the band average of 16.8%, indicating stronger revenue self-sufficiency.

Rank 44/91 2024 data
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Service Efficiency

Total operating expenses per resident across all municipal services. Lower is better — delivering services at lower per-person cost. Smaller municipalities often have higher per-capita costs due to fixed overhead. Learn more ↗
Mid-Band

$3,625

/ person
$1,247 Band Min
$14,119 Band Max
Band Avg: $3,534
AB Avg: $3,918

Total spending of $3,625/person is $91 above the band average of $3,534, ranking 64th of 91 in the band.

Rank 64/91 2024 data
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What's Driving These Numbers

Tax Revenue by Property Class

Tax levy collected from each property class — how the tax burden is distributed across residential, commercial, industrial, and other property owners. Year coverage varies by data availability.

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)
Mid-Band

Annual Homeowner Cost

Estimated taxes on a median-value home

A typical homeowner pays $1,494/year — 43% below the band average of $2,635.

Estimated annual property tax bill on a median-value home (all dwelling types — not single-family only). See methodology.

Learn more ↗

$1,494 / yr

$325 Band Min
$7,343 Band Max
Band Avg: $2,635
AB Avg: $4,403
54th of 91 in band
Mid-Band

Residential Tax Base

Share of assessed property value from residential

71.6% of the tax base is residential, similar to the band average of 68.9%.

Learn more ↗

71.6%

6.8% Band Min
98.4% Band Max
Band Avg: 69.0%
AB Avg: 77.1%
40th of 91 in band
Top of Band

Population Growth

Change over 5 years (2020–2025)

Population grew 5.3% over 5 years, compared to the band average of 4.9%.

Learn more ↗

+5.3%

-8.8% Band Min
23.5% Band Max
Band Avg: 4.9%
AB Avg: 12.6%
35th of 83 in band

Development Activity

Building permit data not available

Revenue Breakdown / person

Per-capita revenue by source — how much each resident contributes through each funding stream. Own-Source Tax = municipal property taxes. Transfers = federal and provincial grants. Service Sales = utility and fee revenues.

Expense Breakdown / person

Per-capita operating expenses by municipal service category. Municipalities with water, sewer, or transit utilities will show higher totals.

Peer Comparison

Comparing against 58 municipalities in the 5,000-15,000 band.

MunicipalityTypePopulation▼Rev/CapExp/CapSurplus/CapDebt/CapTax BillTax Coll. %Liab. Used %5yr Growth
Mountain View CountyD14,776$3,033$2,859$174$590$64895.9%13.7%+9.3%
LacombeD14,733$3,215$3,030$184$1,466$1,45596.7%17.4%+6.3%
Mackenzie CountyD14,488$3,296$3,105$191$1,117$1,18690.2%21.7%+10.1%
WetaskiwinD13,703$2,858$2,716$142$746$1,33895.8%14.5%+9.3%
Lac Ste. Anne CountyD12,639$3,617$2,611$1,006$572$93386.4%18.6%+11.0%
Clearwater CountyD12,326$6,263$5,904$359$18$55498.5%1.3%—
BlackfaldsT12,258$2,911$2,520$391$1,479$1,29796.8%15.6%+9.7%
Bonnyville No. 87, M.d. ofD11,864$9,034$8,452$581$729$90099.1%4.5%—
BanffT11,402$6,749$5,861$888$1,268$87199.9%5.2%+22.5%
Wetaskiwin No. 10, County ofD11,217$3,429$3,042$387$805$53292.6%10.4%—
Lacombe CountyD11,072$4,905$4,859$46$0$61996.8%0.0%+4.1%
Lethbridge CountyD10,988$4,011$2,929$1,082$1,688$1,19078.1%16.7%+0.9%
Yellowhead CountyD10,966$7,998$6,999$999$106$46194.9%1.5%-2.0%
MorinvilleT10,763$2,839$2,746$93$1,500$1,48495.7%22.0%+2.9%
WhitecourtT10,711$4,671$3,490$1,181$908$1,08395.0%11.8%+4.0%
Ponoka CountyD10,670$2,457$2,181$275$210$32591.5%0.0%+4.2%
TaberT10,175$3,176$3,492-$316$1,351$1,92793.8%23.5%+13.8%
Wheatland CountyD10,150$4,246$5,155-$909$218$65496.4%6.0%+9.1%
HintonT10,124$3,296$3,256$40$368$95993.7%9.5%-1.4%
OldsT9,679$3,341$4,027-$686$2,778$1,01296.2%29.0%+2.8%
CoaldaleT9,644$3,795$2,337$1,458$1,608$1,06391.6%22.0%+6.3%
Camrose CountyD8,951$3,559$3,188$371$675$58396.1%21.2%-0.4%
InnisfailT8,736$3,221$3,279-$58$580$1,08197.6%10.4%+11.5%
EdsonT8,692$4,476$3,590$887$1,053$1,13695.8%14.8%+5.3%
Greenview No. 16, M.d. ofD8,584$18,639$14,119$4,520$123$58198.0%0.8%—
Lac la Biche CountyD8,580$11,582$9,226$2,357$3,512$67597.8%35.3%+0.2%
DrumhellerT8,439$5,303$3,162$2,141$570$1,13494.7%16.0%+3.5%
Vermilion River CountyD8,215$6,670$4,969$1,701$444$50594.9%4.5%-1.4%
PonokaT8,212$3,083$3,465-$382$3,093$1,13096.6%32.4%+11.3%
Rocky Mountain HouseT8,144$4,702$2,785$1,917$973$1,21199.1%44.8%+23.5%
Drayton ValleyT8,047$4,456$4,770-$314$1,526$1,04493.6%20.5%+13.0%
Cypress CountyD7,855$6,338$4,339$1,999$582$71497.9%8.2%+0.3%
Newell CountyD7,846$6,755$4,159$2,597$367$65997.9%2.1%+2.9%
Brazeau CountyD7,685$4,714$4,434$280$754$34899.0%13.6%-0.9%
Westlock CountyD7,556$2,554$2,216$337$887$85892.4%29.6%+3.5%
Taber, M.d. ofD7,447$4,003$3,394$609$36$1,30993.0%1.3%—
BonnyvilleT7,366$3,962$3,685$277$1,530$1,18391.9%20.4%+19.7%
Slave LakeT7,334$4,063$3,625$438$1,403$1,49496.9%18.0%+5.3%
Athabasca CountyD7,280$6,200$4,974$1,226$0$88097.3%0.0%-5.8%
Peace RiverT7,220$5,140$4,328$812$2,862$1,58094.7%31.8%+7.0%
WainwrightT6,997$3,674$2,968$706$250$98698.0%10.3%+3.2%
DevonT6,965$3,970$3,459$511$3,289$1,14498.0%24.6%+4.8%
St. Paul County No. 19D6,462$4,898$4,321$577$750$78197.6%12.2%+1.1%
Beaver CountyD6,245$4,164$3,136$1,028$364$87088.7%4.3%+3.9%
St. PaulT6,218$3,253$3,179$74$1,066$1,37997.3%13.9%+0.4%
Barrhead County No. 11D6,186$2,411$2,322$89$595$1,06994.9%5.1%-2.7%
VegrevilleT6,153$3,419$3,413$6$1,538$1,13391.8%20.3%+6.9%
Willow Creek No. 26, M.d. ofD6,081$3,464$3,665-$201$33$84696.5%2.9%—
StettlerT6,035$3,541$3,541-$0$502$87397.3%12.4%-0.4%
Crowsnest PassD6,011$4,214$3,779$435$2,382$1,07299.4%24.6%+2.3%
RedcliffT5,916$2,640$2,263$378$649$69895.9%14.9%+1.8%
Diamond ValleyT5,694$3,108$2,981$127$215$2,10292.6%6.6%—
Stettler No. 6, County ofD5,666$4,165$4,222-$57$2,111$1,50988.8%32.3%—
WestlockT5,363$3,617$3,533$85$1,412$1,30598.2%26.8%+6.9%
CarstairsT5,248$2,986$2,579$407$493$1,03997.2%18.3%+11.3%
DidsburyT5,185$2,866$2,592$274$290$1,02394.2%17.9%+0.2%
Big Lakes CountyD5,106$7,823$7,185$638$83$80382.9%0.8%-8.9%
Kneehill CountyD5,037$6,513$5,597$916$3,971$44889.7%0.0%-1.2%