AB Municipal Expense Growth Rate Rankings

Compound annual growth rate of total expenses per capita from 2021 to 2024.

311 municipalities ranked Lower is better

Lowest — Best Performing

1. Bonnyville (5,000-15,000) -39.9% 2. I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo) (Under 1,500) -17.3% 3. Island Lake South (Under 1,500) -15.9% 4. Norris Beach (Under 1,500) -14.9% 5. Crystal Springs (Under 1,500) -10.8%

Highest — Needs Attention

307. Waiparous (Under 1,500) 20.6% 308. Ghost Lake (Under 1,500) 23.8% 309. Jasper (1,500-5,000) 43.9% 310. Ma-Me-O Beach (Under 1,500) 46.0% 311. Point Alison (Under 1,500) 51.6%

Distribution

150

Top of Band

Mid-Band

Bottom of Band

About this Metric

Low value means

Spending growth is moderate or flat relative to peers.

High value means

Spending is growing faster than peers — may signal expanding services or cost pressures.

For Councillors

Track this alongside revenue growth. Expense growth exceeding revenue growth is structurally unsustainable.

For Residents

Faster expense growth often leads to future tax increases.

Full Rankings

Click column headers to sort. Filter by population band.

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Prov. # ▲	Municipality	Type	Population	Value	Band Rank	vs Band Avg
1	Bonnyville	T	7,366	-39.9%	1 of 89	-1004%
2	I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo)	D	706	-17.3%	2 of 190	-519%
3	Island Lake South	V	83	-15.9%	3 of 190	-485%
4	Norris Beach	V	71	-14.9%	4 of 190	-460%
5	Crystal Springs	V	82	-10.8%	5 of 190	-361%
6	Medicine Hat	D	68,714	-10.5%	1 of 22	-337%
7	Peace River	T	7,220	-8.4%	2 of 89	-291%
8	Sunset Beach	V	64	-8.2%	6 of 190	-299%
9	South Baptiste	V	85	-7.5%	8 of 190	-281%
10	Waskatenau	D	324	-5.3%	9 of 190	-228%
11	Wainwright No. 61, M.d. of	D	4,446	-5.1%	1 of 105	-186%
12	Vermilion River County	D	8,215	-5.0%	3 of 89	-214%
13	Jarvis Bay	V	224	-4.7%	11 of 190	-214%
14	Thorhild County	D	3,147	-4.5%	2 of 105	-177%
15	Nakamun Park	V	80	-4.4%	12 of 190	-206%
16	Hardisty	T	628	-4.2%	13 of 190	-201%
17	Linden	D	911	-4.1%	14 of 190	-199%
18	Coutts	D	260	-4.0%	15 of 190	-196%
19	Barons	D	334	-3.4%	16 of 190	-183%
20	Warner	D	400	-3.3%	17 of 190	-179%
21	Nanton	T	2,522	-3.1%	4 of 105	-152%
22	Chestermere	D	31,671	-3.0%	1 of 48	-158%
23	Mayerthorpe	T	1,413	-2.9%	18 of 190	-170%
24	Vilna	D	269	-2.9%	19 of 190	-170%
25	West Baptiste	V	48	-2.9%	20 of 190	-170%
26	Burnstick Lake	V	29	-2.8%	21 of 190	-167%
27	Sundre	T	2,683	-2.6%	5 of 105	-144%
28	West Cove	V	307	-2.6%	22 of 190	-163%
29	Mackenzie County	D	14,488	-2.6%	4 of 89	-159%
30	Larkspur	V	53	-2.5%	23 of 190	-161%
31	Greenview No. 16, M.d. of	D	8,584	-2.5%	5 of 89	-157%
32	Castor	T	876	-2.2%	24 of 190	-152%
33	St. Paul County No. 19	D	6,462	-2.1%	6 of 89	-147%
34	Chipman	D	286	-1.9%	25 of 190	-147%
35	Sedgewick	T	793	-1.7%	26 of 190	-140%
36	Two Hills No. 21, County of	D	3,412	-1.6%	6 of 105	-126%
37	Bighorn No. 8, M.d. of	D	1,598	-1.5%	7 of 105	-126%
38	Clear Hills County	D	3,006	-1.4%	8 of 105	-123%
39	Calmar	T	2,345	-1.3%	9 of 105	-123%
40	Rockyford	D	421	-1.3%	28 of 190	-132%
41	Redcliff	T	5,916	-1.3%	7 of 89	-130%
42	Island Lake	V	164	-1.3%	29 of 190	-130%
43	Rosalind	D	192	-1.2%	30 of 190	-130%
44	Lougheed	D	224	-1.2%	31 of 190	-129%
45	Carmangay	D	297	-1.0%	32 of 190	-125%
46	Morrin	D	231	-1.0%	33 of 190	-124%
47	Sunset Point	V	270	-1.0%	34 of 190	-123%
48	Rocky Mountain House	T	8,144	-0.9%	8 of 89	-120%
49	Athabasca	T	2,887	-0.8%	10 of 105	-114%
50	Vegreville	T	6,153	-0.7%	9 of 89	-115%
51	Mannville	D	829	-0.7%	35 of 190	-116%
52	Horseshoe Bay	V	82	-0.6%	36 of 190	-115%
53	Mundare	T	875	-0.6%	37 of 190	-113%
54	Empress	D	179	-0.5%	38 of 190	-113%
55	Cowley	D	209	-0.4%	39 of 190	-109%
56	Hanna	T	2,665	-0.2%	12 of 105	-103%
57	Sandy Beach	V	291	-0.2%	40 of 190	-104%
58	Grandview	V	181	-0.1%	41 of 190	-102%
59	Minburn County No. 27	D	3,142	-0.1%	13 of 105	-101%
60	Wood Buffalo	D	81,577	-0.1%	2 of 22	-101%
61	Alix	D	877	0.1%	42 of 190	-97%
62	Brazeau County	D	7,685	0.2%	11 of 89	-96%
63	Foremost	D	413	0.2%	43 of 190	-94%
64	Smoky Lake County	D	4,043	0.2%	14 of 105	-96%
65	Camrose	D	20,801	0.3%	2 of 48	-95%
66	Oyen	T	961	0.3%	44 of 190	-93%
67	Legal	T	1,253	0.4%	45 of 190	-91%
68	Birchcliff	V	301	0.4%	46 of 190	-90%
69	High Prairie	T	2,607	0.5%	15 of 105	-92%
70	Clive	D	907	0.5%	47 of 190	-87%
71	Nampa	D	430	0.6%	48 of 190	-85%
72	Spirit River No. 133, M.d. of	D	649	0.7%	49 of 190	-84%
73	Half Moon Bay	V	68	0.7%	50 of 190	-82%
74	Smoky Lake	T	1,159	0.8%	52 of 190	-81%
75	Girouxville	D	311	0.8%	53 of 190	-80%
76	Vulcan	T	1,922	0.9%	16 of 105	-85%
77	Raymond	T	4,600	0.9%	17 of 105	-84%
78	Vulcan County	D	4,491	1.0%	18 of 105	-84%
79	Red Deer County	D	22,076	1.0%	3 of 48	-81%
80	Longview	D	304	1.0%	54 of 190	-75%
81	Morinville	T	10,763	1.0%	14 of 89	-76%
82	Ponoka County	D	10,670	1.1%	15 of 89	-76%
83	Bondiss	V	126	1.1%	55 of 190	-73%
84	Paradise Valley	D	205	1.1%	56 of 190	-73%
85	Crowsnest Pass	D	6,011	1.2%	16 of 89	-73%
86	Bassano	T	1,381	1.2%	57 of 190	-71%
87	Eckville	T	1,088	1.2%	58 of 190	-71%
88	Edberg	D	123	1.2%	59 of 190	-71%
89	Norglenwold	V	339	1.2%	60 of 190	-70%
90	Sunrise Beach	V	166	1.3%	61 of 190	-70%
91	Hussar	D	192	1.4%	62 of 190	-66%
92	Holden	D	381	1.4%	63 of 190	-66%
93	Whispering Hills	V	136	1.4%	65 of 190	-65%
94	Brooks	D	17,537	1.5%	4 of 48	-71%
95	Silver Sands	V	244	1.6%	66 of 190	-63%
96	Falher	T	1,084	1.6%	67 of 190	-61%
97	Yellowstone	V	117	1.7%	68 of 190	-59%
98	Acadia No. 34, M.d. of	D	494	1.7%	69 of 190	-58%
99	Peace No. 135, M.d. of	D	1,581	1.8%	19 of 105	-70%
100	Crossfield	T	4,075	1.8%	20 of 105	-70%
101	South View	V	74	1.8%	70 of 190	-56%
102	Standard	D	384	1.9%	71 of 190	-55%
103	Barnwell	D	1,073	1.9%	72 of 190	-54%
104	Swan Hills	T	1,430	2.0%	73 of 190	-53%
105	Beaver County	D	6,245	2.0%	19 of 89	-55%
106	Hughenden	D	203	2.0%	74 of 190	-51%
107	Valleyview	T	1,807	2.0%	21 of 105	-66%
108	Lacombe County	D	11,072	2.1%	20 of 89	-53%
109	Rosemary	D	374	2.1%	75 of 190	-50%
110	McLennan	T	729	2.1%	76 of 190	-49%
111	Willow Creek No. 26, M.d. of	D	6,081	2.1%	21 of 89	-52%
112	Sundance Beach	V	44	2.2%	77 of 190	-48%
113	Parkland County	D	34,286	2.2%	6 of 48	-58%
114	Sunbreaker Cove	V	137	2.3%	78 of 190	-45%
115	Elnora	D	307	2.3%	79 of 190	-44%
116	Wetaskiwin	D	13,703	2.3%	22 of 89	-47%
117	Provost No. 52, M.d. of	D	2,071	2.4%	23 of 105	-60%
118	Bruderheim	T	1,439	2.4%	80 of 190	-43%
119	Halkirk	D	95	2.4%	81 of 190	-42%
120	Lamont	T	1,856	2.4%	25 of 105	-59%
121	Banff	T	11,402	2.5%	23 of 89	-43%
122	High River	T	15,518	2.6%	7 of 48	-50%
123	Strathmore	T	16,416	2.6%	8 of 48	-50%
124	Calgary	D	1,612,834	2.6%	1 of 10	-44%
125	Wheatland County	D	10,150	2.6%	25 of 89	-40%
126	Berwyn	D	599	2.6%	82 of 190	-36%
127	Wainwright	T	6,997	2.7%	26 of 89	-39%
128	Czar	D	281	2.7%	83 of 190	-35%
129	Edmonton	D	1,238,295	2.7%	2 of 10	-42%
130	Cardston	T	3,853	2.8%	26 of 105	-53%
131	Delburne	D	949	2.8%	84 of 190	-33%
132	Cold Lake	D	17,815	2.8%	9 of 48	-46%
133	Daysland	T	902	2.8%	85 of 190	-32%
134	Leduc	D	39,966	2.8%	10 of 48	-45%
135	Bowden	T	1,315	2.9%	86 of 190	-29%
136	Westlock	T	5,363	2.9%	28 of 89	-33%
137	Coronation	T	885	2.9%	87 of 190	-29%
138	Leduc County	D	16,400	2.9%	11 of 48	-43%
139	Redwater	T	2,301	3.0%	27 of 105	-50%
140	Claresholm	T	4,248	3.0%	28 of 105	-49%
141	Manning	T	1,153	3.0%	88 of 190	-27%
142	Warner No. 5, County of	D	4,290	3.0%	29 of 105	-49%
143	Sylvan Lake	T	17,897	3.0%	12 of 48	-41%
144	Strathcona County	D	107,345	3.1%	3 of 22	-30%
145	Red Deer	D	115,409	3.1%	4 of 22	-29%
146	Killam	T	887	3.2%	90 of 190	-23%
147	Consort	D	707	3.2%	91 of 190	-22%
148	Pelican Narrows	V	162	3.2%	92 of 190	-22%
149	Picture Butte	T	2,380	3.3%	31 of 105	-45%
150	Vermilion	T	4,192	3.4%	34 of 105	-43%
151	Youngstown	D	179	3.4%	93 of 190	-19%
152	Caroline	D	513	3.4%	94 of 190	-18%
153	Fox Creek	T	2,013	3.4%	35 of 105	-43%
154	Spruce Grove	D	44,575	3.6%	14 of 48	-31%
155	St. Paul	T	6,218	3.6%	30 of 89	-18%
156	Rycroft	D	629	3.7%	96 of 190	-10%
157	Kitscoty	D	964	3.7%	97 of 190	-10%
158	Paintearth No. 18, County of	D	1,990	3.8%	38 of 105	-36%
159	Milo	D	131	3.8%	98 of 190	-9%
160	Westlock County	D	7,556	3.8%	31 of 89	-14%
161	Argentia Beach	V	36	3.9%	99 of 190	-6%
162	Boyle	D	859	3.9%	100 of 190	-6%
163	Lethbridge	D	113,671	3.9%	5 of 22	-12%
164	Airdrie	D	92,544	3.9%	6 of 22	-11%
165	Cremona	D	486	3.9%	101 of 190	-5%
166	Onoway	T	957	4.0%	102 of 190	-5%
167	Duchess	D	1,045	4.0%	103 of 190	-3%
168	Lac la Biche County	D	8,580	4.1%	32 of 89	-7%
169	Stettler	T	6,035	4.1%	33 of 89	-7%
170	Kneehill County	D	5,037	4.2%	34 of 89	-4%
171	Forestburg	D	833	4.2%	105 of 190	+2%
172	Grande Prairie No. 1, County of	D	26,701	4.2%	15 of 48	-18%
173	Coaldale	T	9,644	4.3%	35 of 89	-3%
174	Flagstaff County	D	3,729	4.3%	40 of 105	-27%
175	Marwayne	D	547	4.3%	106 of 190	+4%
176	Taber, M.d. of	D	7,447	4.4%	36 of 89	+0%
177	Lacombe	D	14,733	4.5%	37 of 89	+2%
178	Fort Saskatchewan	D	30,575	4.5%	19 of 48	-14%
179	Silver Beach	V	54	4.5%	107 of 190	+9%
180	Stirling	D	1,350	4.5%	108 of 190	+9%
181	Stony Plain	T	19,662	4.6%	20 of 48	-12%
182	Vauxhall	T	1,451	4.7%	109 of 190	+12%
183	Bonnyville No. 87, M.d. of	D	11,864	4.8%	39 of 89	+8%
184	Two Hills	T	1,698	4.8%	43 of 105	-19%
185	Bonnyville Beach	V	70	4.8%	110 of 190	+16%
186	Rainbow Lake	T	421	4.9%	112 of 190	+18%
187	Bashaw	T	905	4.9%	114 of 190	+19%
188	Foothills County	D	25,779	5.0%	23 of 48	-4%
189	Amisk	D	210	5.1%	115 of 190	+22%
190	Rochon Sands	V	115	5.1%	116 of 190	+23%
191	Woodlands County	D	4,778	5.1%	49 of 105	-13%
192	Thorsby	T	928	5.2%	117 of 190	+26%
193	Whitecourt	T	10,711	5.2%	41 of 89	+18%
194	Bentley	T	1,153	5.2%	118 of 190	+27%
195	Rocky View County	D	50,260	5.3%	12 of 22	+20%
196	Fort Macleod	T	3,945	5.3%	50 of 105	-10%
197	Grande Prairie	D	71,160	5.4%	13 of 22	+22%
198	Alliance	D	158	5.4%	119 of 190	+31%
199	Camrose County	D	8,951	5.4%	42 of 89	+23%
200	Newell County	D	7,846	5.4%	43 of 89	+23%
201	Birch Hills County	D	1,522	5.5%	52 of 105	-7%
202	Blackfalds	T	12,258	5.5%	44 of 89	+25%
203	Lakeview	V	26	5.5%	120 of 190	+33%
204	Carstairs	T	5,248	5.5%	45 of 89	+25%
205	Lethbridge County	D	10,988	5.5%	46 of 89	+26%
206	Didsbury	T	5,185	5.5%	47 of 89	+26%
207	Okotoks	T	33,482	5.6%	25 of 48	+7%
208	St. Albert	D	74,730	5.6%	15 of 22	+27%
209	Lac Ste. Anne County	D	12,639	5.6%	49 of 89	+28%
210	Beaumont	D	26,305	5.7%	26 of 48	+9%
211	Stavely	T	577	5.7%	123 of 190	+37%
212	Drumheller	T	8,439	5.7%	50 of 89	+30%
213	Cardston County	D	4,948	5.8%	57 of 105	-1%
214	Bow Island	T	2,310	5.8%	58 of 105	-1%
215	Provost	T	1,875	5.8%	59 of 105	-1%
216	Barrhead	T	4,768	5.8%	60 of 105	-1%
217	Acme	D	651	5.9%	124 of 190	+43%
218	Viking	T	964	6.0%	125 of 190	+44%
219	Mountain View County	D	14,776	6.0%	52 of 89	+36%
220	Alberta Beach	D	815	6.1%	126 of 190	+46%
221	Itaska Beach	V	29	6.1%	127 of 190	+47%
222	Val Quentin	V	169	6.1%	128 of 190	+48%
223	Lamont County	D	3,918	6.1%	64 of 105	+4%
224	Hill Spring	D	183	6.3%	129 of 190	+52%
225	Spring Lake	D	772	6.4%	130 of 190	+53%
226	Irma	D	482	6.4%	132 of 190	+55%
227	Hinton	T	10,124	6.4%	55 of 89	+45%
228	Grimshaw	T	2,799	6.4%	65 of 105	+9%
229	Barrhead County No. 11	D	6,186	6.5%	56 of 89	+46%
230	Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of	D	11,217	6.5%	57 of 89	+47%
231	Glenwood	D	294	6.5%	133 of 190	+57%
232	Heisler	D	129	6.6%	134 of 190	+58%
233	Golden Days	V	257	6.8%	138 of 190	+63%
234	Cypress County	D	7,855	6.8%	60 of 89	+55%
235	Seba Beach	V	244	6.9%	139 of 190	+66%
236	Magrath	T	2,566	6.9%	69 of 105	+16%
237	Ranchland No. 66, M.d. of	D	110	6.9%	140 of 190	+67%
238	Stettler No. 6, County of	D	5,666	6.9%	61 of 89	+57%
239	Ponoka	T	8,212	6.9%	62 of 89	+58%
240	Slave Lake	T	7,334	7.0%	63 of 89	+59%
241	Gull Lake	V	274	7.0%	141 of 190	+69%
242	Edson	T	8,692	7.0%	64 of 89	+59%
243	Devon	T	6,965	7.0%	65 of 89	+60%
244	Fairview	T	2,918	7.1%	72 of 105	+20%
245	Lloydminster	D	21,295	7.1%	37 of 48	+36%
246	Edgerton	D	383	7.2%	143 of 190	+75%
247	Warburg	D	684	7.2%	144 of 190	+75%
248	Taber	T	10,175	7.3%	68 of 89	+65%
249	Cochrane	T	39,397	7.3%	43 of 48	+41%
250	Ryley	D	486	7.4%	145 of 190	+78%
251	Chauvin	D	284	7.4%	146 of 190	+79%
252	Lesser Slave River No. 124, M.d. of	D	2,809	7.5%	73 of 105	+26%
253	Pincher Creek	T	3,890	7.5%	74 of 105	+27%
254	Bon Accord	T	1,457	7.6%	147 of 190	+84%
255	Starland County	D	1,820	7.9%	78 of 105	+34%
256	Clearwater County	D	12,326	8.0%	71 of 89	+82%
257	Coalhurst	T	3,244	8.0%	79 of 105	+36%
258	Opportunity No. 17, M.d. of	D	3,382	8.1%	80 of 105	+37%
259	Canmore	T	17,341	8.2%	44 of 48	+58%
260	Innisfail	T	8,736	8.2%	73 of 89	+87%
261	Tofield	T	2,122	8.3%	81 of 105	+41%
262	Parkland Beach	V	175	8.4%	148 of 190	+102%
263	Yellowhead County	D	10,966	8.4%	76 of 89	+90%
264	Drayton Valley	T	8,047	8.4%	77 of 89	+90%
265	Beaverlodge	T	2,454	8.4%	82 of 105	+43%
266	Innisfree	D	205	8.5%	151 of 190	+105%
267	Elk Point	T	1,481	8.6%	153 of 190	+108%
268	Rimbey	T	2,502	8.6%	84 of 105	+46%
269	Athabasca County	D	7,280	8.7%	80 of 89	+98%
270	Clyde	D	419	8.8%	156 of 190	+114%
271	Andrew	D	414	8.9%	157 of 190	+115%
272	Veteran	D	230	9.0%	158 of 190	+116%
273	Northern Lights County	D	4,115	9.0%	86 of 105	+52%
274	Milk River	T	826	9.1%	159 of 190	+120%
275	Birch Cove	V	68	9.2%	161 of 190	+122%
276	Bittern Lake	D	224	9.3%	162 of 190	+124%
277	Pincher Creek No. 9, M.d. of	D	3,240	9.3%	88 of 105	+58%
278	Forty Mile County No. 8	D	4,073	9.7%	89 of 105	+64%
279	Betula Beach	V	25	9.9%	164 of 190	+138%
280	I.d. No. 04 (Waterton)	D	550	10.0%	165 of 190	+142%
281	Ross Haven	V	120	10.1%	166 of 190	+145%
282	Hay Lakes	D	430	10.3%	167 of 190	+149%
283	Myrnam	D	246	10.6%	168 of 190	+155%
284	Fairview No. 136, M.d. of	D	1,580	10.6%	90 of 105	+79%
285	Kapasiwin	V	34	10.8%	169 of 190	+161%
286	Castle Island	V	17	11.0%	171 of 190	+166%
287	Hines Creek	D	355	11.2%	173 of 190	+170%
288	Penhold	T	3,812	11.4%	94 of 105	+93%
289	Nobleford	T	1,694	11.6%	95 of 105	+96%
290	Sturgeon County	D	21,035	11.6%	48 of 48	+124%
291	Big Lakes County	D	5,106	11.8%	87 of 89	+167%
292	Sexsmith	T	2,561	12.1%	96 of 105	+104%
293	Millet	T	1,967	12.3%	97 of 105	+109%
294	I.d. No. 09 (Banff)	D	1,004	12.5%	175 of 190	+203%
295	Saddle Hills County	D	2,449	12.6%	98 of 105	+114%
296	Wembley	T	1,516	13.0%	99 of 105	+120%
297	Glendon	D	532	13.1%	177 of 190	+215%
298	Spirit River	T	927	13.1%	178 of 190	+216%
299	Poplar Bay	V	96	13.1%	179 of 190	+216%
300	Beiseker	D	787	13.1%	180 of 190	+217%
301	Bawlf	D	390	13.9%	181 of 190	+235%
302	Mewatha Beach	V	96	16.5%	182 of 190	+299%
303	White Sands	V	183	16.8%	183 of 190	+305%
304	Smoky River No. 130, M.d. of	D	1,895	18.7%	102 of 105	+217%
305	Gibbons	T	3,352	18.9%	103 of 105	+219%
306	Northern Sunrise County	D	1,848	20.5%	104 of 105	+246%
307	Waiparous	V	65	20.6%	185 of 190	+398%
308	Ghost Lake	V	75	23.8%	187 of 190	+474%
309	Jasper	D	4,627	43.9%	105 of 105	+643%
310	Ma-Me-O Beach	V	125	46.0%	189 of 190	+1011%
311	Point Alison	V	19	51.6%	190 of 190	+1145%

Municipalities with Incomplete Data

The following 3 municipalities are excluded from this ranking due to missing or insufficient data points.

Municipality	Type	Reason for Exclusion
Delia	D	Insufficient historical data points
Diamond Valley	T	Insufficient historical data points
Olds	T	Insufficient historical data points