AB Municipal Fiscal Trajectory Rankings

Composite score measuring 4-year fiscal direction across expenses, surplus, debt, tax collection, and stability.

313 municipalities ranked Higher is better

Highest — Best Performing

1. Vermilion River County (5,000-15,000) 88.5 2. Nampa (Under 1,500) 88.1 3. Sundre (1,500-5,000) 86.8 4. Legal (Under 1,500) 85.4 5. Alix (Under 1,500) 85.4

Lowest — Needs Attention

309. Smoky River No. 130, M.d. of (1,500-5,000) 17.4 310. Sexsmith (1,500-5,000) 15.2 311. Sturgeon County (15,000-50,000) 15.1 312. Cochrane (15,000-50,000) 13.3 313. Gibbons (1,500-5,000) 6.2

Distribution

146

Top of Band

Mid-Band

Bottom of Band

About this Metric

High value means

Fiscal trends are moving in the right direction — expenses are growing slower than revenue, debt is being managed, and collections are strong.

Low value means

One or more fiscal indicators have been trending unfavourably over the past 4 years, suggesting structural challenges that may need attention.

For Councillors

The trajectory score aggregates four years of directional change. A declining score warrants a strategic review: are expenses outpacing revenue? Is debt capacity eroding? Are tax collection rates slipping? The composite nature means one strong trend can offset another — so examine the components, not just the headline number.

For Residents

This score tells you whether your municipality's finances are heading in the right direction. A high score means things are generally improving year over year. A low score doesn't mean crisis, but it does mean the trend lines deserve scrutiny — especially if taxes are rising at the same time.

Full Rankings

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Prov. # ▲	Municipality	Type	Population	Value	Band Rank	vs Band Avg
1	Vermilion River County	D	8,215	88.5	1 of 90	+77%
2	Nampa	D	430	88.1	1 of 191	+76%
3	Sundre	T	2,683	86.8	1 of 105	+74%
4	Legal	T	1,253	85.4	2 of 191	+71%
5	Alix	D	877	85.4	3 of 191	+71%
6	Medicine Hat	D	68,714	84.3	1 of 22	+69%
7	Raymond	T	4,600	83.9	2 of 105	+68%
8	Chipman	D	286	82.2	4 of 191	+64%
9	Greenview No. 16, M.d. of	D	8,584	81.9	2 of 90	+64%
10	Peace River	T	7,220	81.6	3 of 90	+63%
11	Chestermere	D	31,671	81.0	1 of 48	+62%
12	Clear Hills County	D	3,006	80.8	4 of 105	+62%
13	Calmar	T	2,345	80.8	3 of 105	+62%
14	Leduc	D	39,966	80.7	2 of 48	+61%
15	Strathcona County	D	107,345	79.5	2 of 22	+59%
16	St. Paul County No. 19	D	6,462	78.9	4 of 90	+58%
17	Thorhild County	D	3,147	78.8	5 of 105	+58%
18	Wetaskiwin	D	13,703	78.7	5 of 90	+57%
19	Airdrie	D	92,544	77.6	3 of 22	+55%
20	Rocky Mountain House	T	8,144	77.2	6 of 90	+54%
21	Brazeau County	D	7,685	77.0	7 of 90	+54%
22	Holden	D	381	76.9	6 of 191	+54%
23	Vulcan	T	1,922	76.4	6 of 105	+53%
24	Hardisty	T	628	75.8	7 of 191	+52%
25	Oyen	T	961	75.5	8 of 191	+51%
26	Mundare	T	875	75.2	9 of 191	+50%
27	Calgary	D	1,612,834	75.0	1 of 10	+50%
28	Fort Saskatchewan	D	30,575	74.9	3 of 48	+50%
29	Longview	D	304	74.2	10 of 191	+48%
30	Minburn County No. 27	D	3,142	74.1	7 of 105	+48%
31	Rosalind	D	192	74.0	11 of 191	+48%
32	Hanna	T	2,665	73.6	8 of 105	+47%
33	Redcliff	T	5,916	73.5	8 of 90	+47%
34	Morinville	T	10,763	73.4	9 of 90	+47%
35	Red Deer County	D	22,076	73.3	4 of 48	+47%
36	Vilna	D	269	73.2	13 of 191	+46%
37	Warner	D	400	73.2	14 of 191	+46%
38	Falher	T	1,084	72.9	15 of 191	+46%
39	Sylvan Lake	T	17,897	72.9	5 of 48	+46%
40	Barons	D	334	72.6	16 of 191	+45%
41	Bonnyville	T	7,366	71.8	11 of 90	+44%
42	Camrose	D	20,801	71.6	6 of 48	+43%
43	Lethbridge	D	113,671	71.4	4 of 22	+43%
44	Empress	D	179	71.1	17 of 191	+42%
45	Bruderheim	T	1,439	70.9	18 of 191	+42%
46	Strathmore	T	16,416	70.7	7 of 48	+41%
47	High River	T	15,518	70.6	8 of 48	+41%
48	Spirit River No. 133, M.d. of	D	649	70.3	19 of 191	+41%
49	Wainwright No. 61, M.d. of	D	4,446	70.2	13 of 105	+40%
50	Flagstaff County	D	3,729	70.1	14 of 105	+40%
51	Boyle	D	859	70.1	20 of 191	+40%
52	Leduc County	D	16,400	70.0	9 of 48	+40%
53	Milo	D	131	69.8	21 of 191	+40%
54	Provost No. 52, M.d. of	D	2,071	69.7	16 of 105	+39%
55	Coutts	D	260	69.7	22 of 191	+39%
56	Lougheed	D	224	69.6	23 of 191	+39%
57	Smoky Lake County	D	4,043	69.2	17 of 105	+38%
58	Linden	D	911	69.1	24 of 191	+38%
59	Willow Creek No. 26, M.d. of	D	6,081	68.7	12 of 90	+37%
60	Island Lake South	V	83	68.6	25 of 191	+37%
61	Beaver County	D	6,245	68.4	13 of 90	+37%
62	High Prairie	T	2,607	68.4	18 of 105	+37%
63	Swan Hills	T	1,430	68.1	26 of 191	+36%
64	Crossfield	T	4,075	68.0	19 of 105	+36%
65	Fox Creek	T	2,013	68.0	20 of 105	+36%
66	Paintearth No. 18, County of	D	1,990	67.6	21 of 105	+35%
67	Stony Plain	T	19,662	67.6	11 of 48	+35%
68	Burnstick Lake	V	29	67.5	27 of 191	+35%
69	Red Deer	D	115,409	67.4	5 of 22	+35%
70	Morrin	D	231	67.3	28 of 191	+35%
71	Mackenzie County	D	14,488	67.0	17 of 90	+34%
72	Vegreville	T	6,153	66.6	18 of 90	+33%
73	Two Hills	T	1,698	66.2	24 of 105	+32%
74	Spruce Grove	D	44,575	65.8	14 of 48	+32%
75	Ponoka County	D	10,670	65.5	19 of 90	+31%
76	Jarvis Bay	V	224	65.5	31 of 191	+31%
77	South View	V	74	65.1	32 of 191	+30%
78	Edmonton	D	1,238,295	65.0	3 of 10	+30%
79	Elnora	D	307	64.8	33 of 191	+30%
80	Bowden	T	1,315	64.6	34 of 191	+29%
81	Claresholm	T	4,248	64.4	25 of 105	+29%
82	Delburne	D	949	64.3	35 of 191	+29%
83	Mannville	D	829	64.2	36 of 191	+28%
84	St. Paul	T	6,218	64.0	21 of 90	+28%
85	Forestburg	D	833	64.0	37 of 191	+28%
86	Rosemary	D	374	63.8	38 of 191	+28%
87	Brooks	D	17,537	63.7	16 of 48	+27%
88	Castor	T	876	63.1	40 of 191	+26%
89	Nanton	T	2,522	62.7	26 of 105	+25%
90	Banff	T	11,402	62.6	23 of 90	+25%
91	Cold Lake	D	17,815	62.5	17 of 48	+25%
92	Clive	D	907	62.4	42 of 191	+25%
93	Larkspur	V	53	62.0	43 of 191	+24%
94	Lacombe County	D	11,072	61.3	25 of 90	+23%
95	Stirling	D	1,350	61.3	44 of 191	+23%
96	Bassano	T	1,381	61.1	45 of 191	+22%
97	Athabasca	T	2,887	61.0	27 of 105	+22%
98	Stettler	T	6,035	61.0	26 of 90	+22%
99	Whitecourt	T	10,711	61.0	27 of 90	+22%
100	Rockyford	D	421	60.8	46 of 191	+22%
101	Acme	D	651	60.7	48 of 191	+21%
102	Grandview	V	181	60.7	47 of 191	+21%
103	Marwayne	D	547	60.6	49 of 191	+21%
104	Cardston	T	3,853	60.5	28 of 105	+21%
105	Warner No. 5, County of	D	4,290	60.4	29 of 105	+21%
106	Lesser Slave River No. 124, M.d. of	D	2,809	60.3	30 of 105	+21%
107	Drumheller	T	8,439	60.1	28 of 90	+20%
108	Crystal Springs	V	82	59.9	50 of 191	+20%
109	Carmangay	D	297	59.6	51 of 191	+19%
110	Mayerthorpe	T	1,413	59.5	52 of 191	+19%
111	Grande Prairie No. 1, County of	D	26,701	59.4	21 of 48	+19%
112	Two Hills No. 21, County of	D	3,412	59.3	31 of 105	+19%
113	Vulcan County	D	4,491	59.1	32 of 105	+18%
114	Wheatland County	D	10,150	58.9	30 of 90	+18%
115	Lac la Biche County	D	8,580	58.5	32 of 90	+17%
116	Didsbury	T	5,185	58.5	31 of 90	+17%
117	Killam	T	887	58.1	54 of 191	+16%
118	Manning	T	1,153	58.1	55 of 191	+16%
119	Cypress County	D	7,855	58.0	34 of 90	+16%
120	Redwater	T	2,301	58.0	35 of 105	+16%
121	Thorsby	T	928	58.0	56 of 191	+16%
122	Vauxhall	T	1,451	58.0	57 of 191	+16%
123	Newell County	D	7,846	57.9	35 of 90	+16%
124	Lacombe	D	14,733	57.7	36 of 90	+15%
125	Blackfalds	T	12,258	57.4	37 of 90	+15%
126	Stavely	T	577	57.2	59 of 191	+14%
127	Waskatenau	D	324	57.2	60 of 191	+14%
128	Irma	D	482	57.1	61 of 191	+14%
129	Hussar	D	192	57.0	62 of 191	+14%
130	Woodlands County	D	4,778	56.9	38 of 105	+14%
131	Alliance	D	158	56.9	63 of 191	+14%
132	Edberg	D	123	56.4	64 of 191	+13%
133	Half Moon Bay	V	68	56.1	65 of 191	+12%
134	Starland County	D	1,820	56.0	40 of 105	+12%
135	Girouxville	D	311	56.0	66 of 191	+12%
136	Silver Sands	V	244	55.8	67 of 191	+12%
137	Fort Macleod	T	3,945	55.7	41 of 105	+11%
138	Caroline	D	513	55.7	68 of 191	+11%
139	Bow Island	T	2,310	55.6	42 of 105	+11%
140	Nakamun Park	V	80	55.6	69 of 191	+11%
141	Lamont	T	1,856	55.4	43 of 105	+11%
142	Consort	D	707	55.3	70 of 191	+11%
143	Foremost	D	413	55.3	71 of 191	+11%
144	Birchcliff	V	301	55.2	72 of 191	+10%
145	Camrose County	D	8,951	54.8	38 of 90	+10%
146	Ranchland No. 66, M.d. of	D	110	54.8	73 of 191	+10%
147	Eckville	T	1,088	54.7	74 of 191	+9%
148	Okotoks	T	33,482	54.7	23 of 48	+9%
149	Barnwell	D	1,073	54.4	75 of 191	+9%
150	Wood Buffalo	D	81,577	54.3	8 of 22	+9%
151	Bentley	T	1,153	54.1	76 of 191	+8%
152	Barrhead County No. 11	D	6,186	54.0	39 of 90	+8%
153	Wainwright	T	6,997	53.6	41 of 90	+7%
154	Carstairs	T	5,248	53.5	42 of 90	+7%
155	Heisler	D	129	53.4	78 of 191	+7%
156	Rainbow Lake	T	421	53.3	79 of 191	+7%
157	Youngstown	D	179	52.7	82 of 191	+5%
158	Vermilion	T	4,192	52.4	46 of 105	+5%
159	Birch Hills County	D	1,522	52.3	47 of 105	+5%
160	McLennan	T	729	52.3	83 of 191	+5%
161	Ryley	D	486	52.1	84 of 191	+4%
162	Daysland	T	902	52.0	85 of 191	+4%
163	Taber, M.d. of	D	7,447	51.9	44 of 90	+4%
164	Glenwood	D	294	51.9	86 of 191	+4%
165	Rochon Sands	V	115	51.8	87 of 191	+4%
166	West Cove	V	307	51.8	88 of 191	+4%
167	Barrhead	T	4,768	51.7	48 of 105	+3%
168	Forty Mile County No. 8	D	4,073	51.5	50 of 105	+3%
169	Tofield	T	2,122	51.4	51 of 105	+3%
170	South Baptiste	V	85	51.3	89 of 191	+3%
171	Foothills County	D	25,779	51.2	25 of 48	+2%
172	Czar	D	281	51.1	90 of 191	+2%
173	Sedgewick	T	793	51.0	91 of 191	+2%
174	Smoky Lake	T	1,159	50.9	92 of 191	+2%
175	Acadia No. 34, M.d. of	D	494	50.7	93 of 191	+1%
176	Lac Ste. Anne County	D	12,639	50.4	46 of 90	+1%
177	Yellowstone	V	117	50.3	94 of 191	+1%
178	Lakeview	V	26	50.2	95 of 191	+0%
179	Beaumont	D	26,305	49.9	27 of 48	-0%
180	Crowsnest Pass	D	6,011	49.7	47 of 90	-1%
181	Kneehill County	D	5,037	49.6	48 of 90	-1%
182	Westlock	T	5,363	49.3	49 of 90	-1%
183	Sunset Point	V	270	49.3	96 of 191	-1%
184	Coronation	T	885	49.1	97 of 191	-2%
185	Edson	T	8,692	48.9	50 of 90	-2%
186	Pelican Narrows	V	162	48.9	98 of 191	-2%
187	Onoway	T	957	48.7	99 of 191	-3%
188	Provost	T	1,875	48.5	54 of 105	-3%
189	Beaverlodge	T	2,454	48.4	56 of 105	-3%
190	Devon	T	6,965	48.4	51 of 90	-3%
191	Picture Butte	T	2,380	48.4	55 of 105	-3%
192	Duchess	D	1,045	48.3	100 of 191	-3%
193	Paradise Valley	D	205	48.3	101 of 191	-3%
194	Grande Prairie	D	71,160	47.9	12 of 22	-4%
195	Hughenden	D	203	47.8	102 of 191	-4%
196	I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo)	D	706	47.8	103 of 191	-4%
197	Westlock County	D	7,556	47.7	52 of 90	-5%
198	Peace No. 135, M.d. of	D	1,581	47.6	57 of 105	-5%
199	Kitscoty	D	964	47.5	104 of 191	-5%
200	Elk Point	T	1,481	47.3	105 of 191	-5%
201	Cremona	D	486	47.3	107 of 191	-5%
202	Norris Beach	V	71	47.3	106 of 191	-5%
203	Betula Beach	V	25	47.0	108 of 191	-6%
204	Slave Lake	T	7,334	46.9	54 of 90	-6%
205	Standard	D	384	46.7	109 of 191	-7%
206	Parkland County	D	34,286	46.4	28 of 48	-7%
207	Viking	T	964	46.3	110 of 191	-7%
208	Rycroft	D	629	46.3	111 of 191	-7%
209	Bondiss	V	126	46.0	112 of 191	-8%
210	Bonnyville No. 87, M.d. of	D	11,864	45.9	56 of 90	-8%
211	Magrath	T	2,566	45.7	59 of 105	-9%
212	Ma-Me-O Beach	V	125	45.7	113 of 191	-9%
213	Norglenwold	V	339	45.6	115 of 191	-9%
214	Sandy Beach	V	291	45.6	114 of 191	-9%
215	West Baptiste	V	48	45.6	116 of 191	-9%
216	Delia	D	145	45.5	117 of 191	-9%
217	Seba Beach	V	244	45.5	118 of 191	-9%
218	Athabasca County	D	7,280	45.4	57 of 90	-9%
219	Silver Beach	V	54	44.9	119 of 191	-10%
220	Kapasiwin	V	34	44.3	122 of 191	-11%
221	Point Alison	V	19	44.3	123 of 191	-11%
222	Grimshaw	T	2,799	44.2	64 of 105	-12%
223	Lamont County	D	3,918	43.9	65 of 105	-12%
224	Nobleford	T	1,694	43.6	67 of 105	-13%
225	Olds	T	9,679	43.5	59 of 90	-13%
226	Whispering Hills	V	136	43.5	124 of 191	-13%
227	Warburg	D	684	43.3	125 of 191	-13%
228	Itaska Beach	V	29	43.2	126 of 191	-14%
229	Mountain View County	D	14,776	43.1	61 of 90	-14%
230	Coaldale	T	9,644	43.1	60 of 90	-14%
231	Bighorn No. 8, M.d. of	D	1,598	43.0	68 of 105	-14%
232	Castle Island	V	17	43.0	128 of 191	-14%
233	Val Quentin	V	169	43.0	127 of 191	-14%
234	Penhold	T	3,812	42.7	69 of 105	-15%
235	Cowley	D	209	42.7	129 of 191	-15%
236	Rocky View County	D	50,260	41.9	14 of 22	-16%
237	Ghost Lake	V	75	41.8	131 of 191	-16%
238	Amisk	D	210	41.6	133 of 191	-17%
239	Hines Creek	D	355	41.6	132 of 191	-17%
240	Saddle Hills County	D	2,449	41.1	71 of 105	-18%
241	Innisfree	D	205	40.9	134 of 191	-18%
242	Northern Lights County	D	4,115	40.8	72 of 105	-18%
243	Lethbridge County	D	10,988	40.6	64 of 90	-19%
244	Island Lake	V	164	40.5	135 of 191	-19%
245	Gull Lake	V	274	40.3	136 of 191	-19%
246	Alberta Beach	D	815	40.2	137 of 191	-20%
247	Rimbey	T	2,502	39.8	75 of 105	-20%
248	Fairview	T	2,918	39.1	78 of 105	-22%
249	Spring Lake	D	772	38.4	146 of 191	-23%
250	Valleyview	T	1,807	38.2	80 of 105	-24%
251	Beiseker	D	787	37.9	147 of 191	-24%
252	Sundance Beach	V	44	37.8	148 of 191	-24%
253	Canmore	T	17,341	37.6	32 of 48	-25%
254	Chauvin	D	284	37.6	150 of 191	-25%
255	Argentia Beach	V	36	37.6	149 of 191	-25%
256	Bashaw	T	905	36.7	151 of 191	-27%
257	White Sands	V	183	36.5	152 of 191	-27%
258	Coalhurst	T	3,244	36.3	82 of 105	-27%
259	Pincher Creek	T	3,890	36.2	83 of 105	-28%
260	Andrew	D	414	36.2	154 of 191	-28%
261	Horseshoe Bay	V	82	36.2	153 of 191	-28%
262	Millet	T	1,967	36.0	84 of 105	-28%
263	Sunbreaker Cove	V	137	36.0	156 of 191	-28%
264	Sunrise Beach	V	166	36.0	155 of 191	-28%
265	Clearwater County	D	12,326	35.8	66 of 90	-28%
266	Pincher Creek No. 9, M.d. of	D	3,240	35.6	86 of 105	-29%
267	Veteran	D	230	35.6	158 of 191	-29%
268	Sunset Beach	V	64	35.1	159 of 191	-30%
269	Bon Accord	T	1,457	34.9	161 of 191	-30%
270	Golden Days	V	257	34.9	160 of 191	-30%
271	Birch Cove	V	68	34.6	163 of 191	-31%
272	Clyde	D	419	34.4	164 of 191	-31%
273	Cardston County	D	4,948	33.9	89 of 105	-32%
274	Halkirk	D	95	33.4	167 of 191	-33%
275	Bonnyville Beach	V	70	33.4	166 of 191	-33%
276	Milk River	T	826	32.8	168 of 191	-34%
277	Berwyn	D	599	32.7	169 of 191	-35%
278	St. Albert	D	74,730	32.4	18 of 22	-35%
279	Big Lakes County	D	5,106	31.7	70 of 90	-37%
280	Wembley	T	1,516	31.6	92 of 105	-37%
281	Hinton	T	10,124	30.8	72 of 90	-38%
282	Spirit River	T	927	30.6	172 of 191	-39%
283	Mewatha Beach	V	96	30.3	173 of 191	-39%
284	Myrnam	D	246	30.1	174 of 191	-40%
285	I.d. No. 09 (Banff)	D	1,004	30.0	175 of 191	-40%
286	Bittern Lake	D	224	29.7	176 of 191	-41%
287	Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of	D	11,217	29.6	73 of 90	-41%
288	Drayton Valley	T	8,047	29.0	74 of 90	-42%
289	Edgerton	D	383	28.9	177 of 191	-42%
290	Ponoka	T	8,212	28.5	75 of 90	-43%
291	Taber	T	10,175	28.4	76 of 90	-43%
292	Ross Haven	V	120	27.3	179 of 191	-45%
293	Jasper	D	4,627	27.1	96 of 105	-46%
294	Hay Lakes	D	430	26.8	181 of 191	-46%
295	Yellowhead County	D	10,966	26.6	81 of 90	-47%
296	I.d. No. 04 (Waterton)	D	550	25.7	183 of 191	-49%
297	Lloydminster	D	21,295	24.2	44 of 48	-52%
298	Glendon	D	532	23.9	185 of 191	-52%
299	Hill Spring	D	183	23.3	186 of 191	-53%
300	Opportunity No. 17, M.d. of	D	3,382	23.2	100 of 105	-54%
301	Northern Sunrise County	D	1,848	21.9	101 of 105	-56%
302	Bawlf	D	390	21.9	187 of 191	-56%
303	Stettler No. 6, County of	D	5,666	21.3	87 of 90	-57%
304	Fairview No. 136, M.d. of	D	1,580	20.8	102 of 105	-58%
305	Poplar Bay	V	96	20.6	188 of 191	-59%
306	Waiparous	V	65	20.5	189 of 191	-59%
307	Innisfail	T	8,736	18.5	89 of 90	-63%
308	Parkland Beach	V	175	18.1	190 of 191	-64%
309	Smoky River No. 130, M.d. of	D	1,895	17.4	103 of 105	-65%
310	Sexsmith	T	2,561	15.2	104 of 105	-70%
311	Sturgeon County	D	21,035	15.1	46 of 48	-70%
312	Cochrane	T	39,397	13.3	47 of 48	-73%
313	Gibbons	T	3,352	6.2	105 of 105	-88%

Municipalities with Incomplete Data

The following 1 municipalities are excluded from this ranking due to missing or insufficient data points.

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