AB Municipal Liability Capacity Trend Rankings

Average annual change in liability servicing capacity used from 2021 to 2024.

312 municipalities ranked Lower is better

Lowest — Best Performing

1. Ma-Me-O Beach (Under 1,500) -542.8% 2. Pincher Creek (1,500-5,000) -24.2% 3. Elk Point (Under 1,500) -22.5% 4. Banff (5,000-15,000) -20.1% 5. Grande Prairie (50,000-150,000) -17.7%

Highest — Needs Attention

308. Coronation (Under 1,500) 3.7% 309. Crowsnest Pass (5,000-15,000) 5.1% 310. Gibbons (1,500-5,000) 5.7% 311. Lac la Biche County (5,000-15,000) 11.2% 312. Nakamun Park (Under 1,500) 14.3%

Distribution

132

Top of Band

Mid-Band

Bottom of Band

About this Metric

Low value means

Capacity is being freed up — more room for future capital projects.

High value means

More capacity is being consumed — less room for future borrowing.

For Councillors

Freeing borrowing capacity preserves flexibility for major infrastructure investments.

For Residents

Available borrowing room means the municipality can finance needed projects without emergency measures.

Full Rankings

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Prov. # ▲	Municipality	Type	Population	Value	Band Rank	vs Band Avg
1	Ma-Me-O Beach	V	125	-542.8%	1 of 190	+15035%
2	Pincher Creek	T	3,890	-24.2%	1 of 105	+2654%
3	Elk Point	T	1,481	-22.5%	2 of 190	+528%
4	Banff	T	11,402	-20.1%	1 of 90	+1442%
5	Grande Prairie	D	71,160	-17.7%	1 of 22	+1481%
6	Legal	T	1,253	-15.3%	3 of 190	+328%
7	Carmangay	D	297	-9.8%	4 of 190	+174%
8	Bentley	T	1,153	-9.6%	5 of 190	+166%
9	Delia	D	145	-9.2%	6 of 190	+157%
10	Chestermere	D	31,671	-9.0%	2 of 48	+732%
11	Vermilion River County	D	8,215	-7.4%	4 of 90	+465%
12	Carstairs	T	5,248	-6.9%	5 of 90	+432%
13	Strathmore	T	16,416	-6.8%	3 of 48	+527%
14	Parkland County	D	34,286	-6.6%	4 of 48	+508%
15	Newell County	D	7,846	-5.8%	6 of 90	+349%
16	Thorsby	T	928	-5.6%	7 of 190	+56%
17	Fairview	T	2,918	-5.6%	3 of 105	+534%
18	Wetaskiwin	D	13,703	-5.5%	8 of 90	+324%
19	Jasper	D	4,627	-5.4%	4 of 105	+516%
20	Bassano	T	1,381	-5.3%	8 of 190	+48%
21	St. Paul	T	6,218	-5.1%	10 of 90	+292%
22	Rimbey	T	2,502	-5.1%	5 of 105	+479%
23	Two Hills	T	1,698	-5.0%	6 of 105	+468%
24	Daysland	T	902	-5.0%	10 of 190	+38%
25	Nampa	D	430	-4.8%	11 of 190	+33%
26	Consort	D	707	-4.6%	12 of 190	+27%
27	Blackfalds	T	12,258	-4.5%	11 of 90	+247%
28	Flagstaff County	D	3,729	-4.4%	7 of 105	+399%
29	Red Deer County	D	22,076	-4.3%	5 of 48	+296%
30	Forestburg	D	833	-4.3%	13 of 190	+19%
31	Drayton Valley	T	8,047	-4.2%	12 of 90	+226%
32	Coalhurst	T	3,244	-4.2%	8 of 105	+377%
33	Ryley	D	486	-3.9%	14 of 190	+9%
34	Picture Butte	T	2,380	-3.9%	10 of 105	+340%
35	Wembley	T	1,516	-3.8%	11 of 105	+332%
36	Stavely	T	577	-3.7%	15 of 190	+4%
37	Swan Hills	T	1,430	-3.6%	16 of 190	-0%
38	Fort Macleod	T	3,945	-3.5%	13 of 105	+294%
39	Beaumont	D	26,305	-3.5%	6 of 48	+219%
40	Vermilion	T	4,192	-3.5%	14 of 105	+293%
41	Bonnyville	T	7,366	-3.4%	14 of 90	+163%
42	Fort Saskatchewan	D	30,575	-3.4%	7 of 48	+216%
43	Tofield	T	2,122	-3.4%	15 of 105	+285%
44	Peace River	T	7,220	-3.3%	15 of 90	+153%
45	Olds	T	9,679	-3.3%	16 of 90	+153%
46	Stirling	D	1,350	-3.3%	17 of 190	-9%
47	Camrose County	D	8,951	-3.1%	17 of 90	+142%
48	Calmar	T	2,345	-3.0%	18 of 105	+247%
49	Airdrie	D	92,544	-3.0%	2 of 22	+169%
50	Grande Prairie No. 1, County of	D	26,701	-2.9%	9 of 48	+171%
51	High Prairie	T	2,607	-2.9%	19 of 105	+231%
52	Girouxville	D	311	-2.9%	21 of 190	-19%
53	Acme	D	651	-2.8%	23 of 190	-22%
54	Ponoka County	D	10,670	-2.7%	18 of 90	+106%
55	Brazeau County	D	7,685	-2.7%	19 of 90	+105%
56	Whitecourt	T	10,711	-2.6%	20 of 90	+104%
57	Marwayne	D	547	-2.6%	24 of 190	-26%
58	Red Deer	D	115,409	-2.5%	3 of 22	+127%
59	Spirit River No. 133, M.d. of	D	649	-2.5%	25 of 190	-29%
60	Beiseker	D	787	-2.5%	26 of 190	-29%
61	Strathcona County	D	107,345	-2.5%	4 of 22	+125%
62	Magrath	T	2,566	-2.5%	21 of 105	+187%
63	Mundare	T	875	-2.5%	27 of 190	-30%
64	Big Lakes County	D	5,106	-2.5%	23 of 90	+91%
65	Crossfield	T	4,075	-2.4%	23 of 105	+178%
66	Warner No. 5, County of	D	4,290	-2.4%	24 of 105	+177%
67	Northern Lights County	D	4,115	-2.4%	25 of 105	+176%
68	Morinville	T	10,763	-2.3%	25 of 90	+78%
69	Northern Sunrise County	D	1,848	-2.3%	27 of 105	+156%
70	Sundre	T	2,683	-2.2%	28 of 105	+154%
71	Holden	D	381	-2.2%	29 of 190	-38%
72	Lac Ste. Anne County	D	12,639	-2.2%	26 of 90	+66%
73	Claresholm	T	4,248	-2.1%	30 of 105	+133%
74	Rocky Mountain House	T	8,144	-2.0%	27 of 90	+57%
75	Taber, M.d. of	D	7,447	-2.0%	28 of 90	+52%
76	Brooks	D	17,537	-1.9%	11 of 48	+78%
77	Millet	T	1,967	-1.9%	31 of 105	+119%
78	Raymond	T	4,600	-1.9%	32 of 105	+116%
79	Lacombe	D	14,733	-1.9%	31 of 90	+43%
80	Seba Beach	V	244	-1.8%	32 of 190	-49%
81	Beaverlodge	T	2,454	-1.8%	34 of 105	+107%
82	Edson	T	8,692	-1.8%	32 of 90	+37%
83	Fox Creek	T	2,013	-1.8%	35 of 105	+104%
84	Okotoks	T	33,482	-1.8%	12 of 48	+66%
85	Forty Mile County No. 8	D	4,073	-1.8%	37 of 105	+103%
86	Canmore	T	17,341	-1.7%	13 of 48	+61%
87	Foothills County	D	25,779	-1.7%	14 of 48	+58%
88	Mayerthorpe	T	1,413	-1.7%	33 of 190	-53%
89	Lesser Slave River No. 124, M.d. of	D	2,809	-1.6%	38 of 105	+77%
90	Alliance	D	158	-1.5%	35 of 190	-59%
91	Provost	T	1,875	-1.5%	39 of 105	+67%
92	Foremost	D	413	-1.5%	36 of 190	-59%
93	Cypress County	D	7,855	-1.5%	34 of 90	+11%
94	Stettler	T	6,035	-1.5%	35 of 90	+11%
95	Mountain View County	D	14,776	-1.4%	36 of 90	+8%
96	Coaldale	T	9,644	-1.4%	37 of 90	+7%
97	Eckville	T	1,088	-1.4%	37 of 190	-62%
98	Longview	D	304	-1.4%	38 of 190	-62%
99	Lethbridge County	D	10,988	-1.3%	38 of 90	-1%
100	Chipman	D	286	-1.3%	40 of 190	-64%
101	Slave Lake	T	7,334	-1.3%	39 of 90	-2%
102	Taber	T	10,175	-1.2%	40 of 90	-6%
103	Didsbury	T	5,185	-1.2%	41 of 90	-6%
104	Drumheller	T	8,439	-1.2%	42 of 90	-6%
105	Penhold	T	3,812	-1.2%	42 of 105	+39%
106	Oyen	T	961	-1.2%	42 of 190	-67%
107	Pincher Creek No. 9, M.d. of	D	3,240	-1.1%	44 of 105	+31%
108	Nobleford	T	1,694	-1.1%	45 of 105	+30%
109	Leduc County	D	16,400	-1.1%	18 of 48	+4%
110	Rainbow Lake	T	421	-1.1%	44 of 190	-69%
111	Killam	T	887	-1.1%	45 of 190	-70%
112	Castor	T	876	-1.1%	46 of 190	-70%
113	Hardisty	T	628	-1.1%	47 of 190	-71%
114	Standard	D	384	-1.0%	48 of 190	-71%
115	Valleyview	T	1,807	-1.0%	46 of 105	+17%
116	Woodlands County	D	4,778	-1.0%	47 of 105	+16%
117	Hines Creek	D	355	-1.0%	49 of 190	-72%
118	Bruderheim	T	1,439	-1.0%	50 of 190	-73%
119	Stony Plain	T	19,662	-1.0%	21 of 48	-10%
120	Clive	D	907	-0.9%	51 of 190	-74%
121	Lethbridge	D	113,671	-0.9%	7 of 22	-17%
122	Sturgeon County	D	21,035	-0.9%	22 of 48	-18%
123	Viking	T	964	-0.9%	52 of 190	-75%
124	Hinton	T	10,124	-0.8%	48 of 90	-35%
125	Calgary	D	1,612,834	-0.8%	3 of 10	+17%
126	Redcliff	T	5,916	-0.8%	49 of 90	-37%
127	Barons	D	334	-0.8%	53 of 190	-77%
128	Barnwell	D	1,073	-0.8%	54 of 190	-78%
129	Hanna	T	2,665	-0.8%	52 of 105	-11%
130	Hay Lakes	D	430	-0.8%	55 of 190	-79%
131	Vegreville	T	6,153	-0.7%	50 of 90	-47%
132	Lougheed	D	224	-0.7%	56 of 190	-81%
133	Sylvan Lake	T	17,897	-0.7%	24 of 48	-37%
134	Bowden	T	1,315	-0.7%	57 of 190	-82%
135	St. Paul County No. 19	D	6,462	-0.7%	51 of 90	-50%
136	Westlock County	D	7,556	-0.7%	52 of 90	-50%
137	Alix	D	877	-0.6%	58 of 190	-83%
138	Clearwater County	D	12,326	-0.6%	53 of 90	-55%
139	Thorhild County	D	3,147	-0.5%	58 of 105	-40%
140	Beaver County	D	6,245	-0.5%	54 of 90	-61%
141	Barrhead	T	4,768	-0.5%	60 of 105	-43%
142	Rycroft	D	629	-0.5%	62 of 190	-86%
143	High River	T	15,518	-0.5%	30 of 48	-55%
144	Vauxhall	T	1,451	-0.5%	63 of 190	-87%
145	Devon	T	6,965	-0.4%	55 of 90	-66%
146	Wainwright	T	6,997	-0.4%	56 of 90	-66%
147	Spirit River	T	927	-0.4%	64 of 190	-89%
148	Greenview No. 16, M.d. of	D	8,584	-0.4%	58 of 90	-70%
149	Lamont County	D	3,918	-0.4%	61 of 105	-56%
150	Falher	T	1,084	-0.4%	65 of 190	-89%
151	Manning	T	1,153	-0.4%	66 of 190	-90%
152	Myrnam	D	246	-0.3%	67 of 190	-91%
153	Westlock	T	5,363	-0.3%	60 of 90	-75%
154	Cardston	T	3,853	-0.3%	63 of 105	-65%
155	Willow Creek No. 26, M.d. of	D	6,081	-0.3%	61 of 90	-78%
156	Acadia No. 34, M.d. of	D	494	-0.3%	68 of 190	-92%
157	Bon Accord	T	1,457	-0.3%	69 of 190	-92%
158	McLennan	T	729	-0.3%	70 of 190	-92%
159	Redwater	T	2,301	-0.2%	64 of 105	-74%
160	Bawlf	D	390	-0.2%	71 of 190	-94%
161	Nanton	T	2,522	-0.2%	66 of 105	-76%
162	Milo	D	131	-0.2%	72 of 190	-94%
163	Vulcan County	D	4,491	-0.2%	67 of 105	-79%
164	Linden	D	911	-0.2%	74 of 190	-95%
165	Sexsmith	T	2,561	-0.2%	68 of 105	-82%
166	Bonnyville No. 87, M.d. of	D	11,864	-0.1%	63 of 90	-88%
167	Yellowhead County	D	10,966	-0.1%	64 of 90	-89%
168	Onoway	T	957	-0.1%	75 of 190	-96%
169	Barrhead County No. 11	D	6,186	-0.1%	65 of 90	-91%
170	Caroline	D	513	-0.1%	76 of 190	-97%
171	Wheatland County	D	10,150	-0.1%	67 of 90	-92%
172	Edgerton	D	383	-0.1%	77 of 190	-97%
173	Rosemary	D	374	-0.1%	78 of 190	-97%
174	Leduc	D	39,966	-0.1%	32 of 48	-95%
175	Rochon Sands	V	115	-0.0%	80 of 190	-99%
176	Wood Buffalo	D	81,577	0.0%	13 of 22	-100%
177	Athabasca County	D	7,280	0.0%	69 of 90	-100%
178	Birch Hills County	D	1,522	0.0%	72 of 105	-100%
179	Clear Hills County	D	3,006	0.0%	73 of 105	-100%
180	Fairview No. 136, M.d. of	D	1,580	0.0%	74 of 105	-100%
181	Kneehill County	D	5,037	0.0%	70 of 90	-100%
182	Lacombe County	D	11,072	0.0%	71 of 90	-100%
183	Minburn County No. 27	D	3,142	0.0%	75 of 105	-100%
184	Paintearth No. 18, County of	D	1,990	0.0%	76 of 105	-100%
185	Peace No. 135, M.d. of	D	1,581	0.0%	77 of 105	-100%
186	Provost No. 52, M.d. of	D	2,071	0.0%	78 of 105	-100%
187	Ranchland No. 66, M.d. of	D	110	0.0%	89 of 190	-100%
188	Saddle Hills County	D	2,449	0.0%	79 of 105	-100%
189	Smoky Lake County	D	4,043	0.0%	80 of 105	-100%
190	Two Hills No. 21, County of	D	3,412	0.0%	81 of 105	-100%
191	Wainwright No. 61, M.d. of	D	4,446	0.0%	82 of 105	-100%
192	Bashaw	T	905	0.0%	90 of 190	-100%
193	Milk River	T	826	0.0%	91 of 190	-100%
194	Alberta Beach	D	815	0.0%	92 of 190	-100%
195	Amisk	D	210	0.0%	93 of 190	-100%
196	Andrew	D	414	0.0%	94 of 190	-100%
197	Bittern Lake	D	224	0.0%	95 of 190	-100%
198	Chauvin	D	284	0.0%	96 of 190	-100%
199	Clyde	D	419	0.0%	97 of 190	-100%
200	Coutts	D	260	0.0%	98 of 190	-100%
201	Cowley	D	209	0.0%	99 of 190	-100%
202	Czar	D	281	0.0%	100 of 190	-100%
203	Duchess	D	1,045	0.0%	101 of 190	-100%
204	Edberg	D	123	0.0%	102 of 190	-100%
205	Elnora	D	307	0.0%	103 of 190	-100%
206	Empress	D	179	0.0%	104 of 190	-100%
207	Glendon	D	532	0.0%	105 of 190	-100%
208	Glenwood	D	294	0.0%	106 of 190	-100%
209	Halkirk	D	95	0.0%	107 of 190	-100%
210	Heisler	D	129	0.0%	108 of 190	-100%
211	Hill Spring	D	183	0.0%	109 of 190	-100%
212	Hughenden	D	203	0.0%	110 of 190	-100%
213	Innisfree	D	205	0.0%	111 of 190	-100%
214	Irma	D	482	0.0%	112 of 190	-100%
215	Kitscoty	D	964	0.0%	113 of 190	-100%
216	Morrin	D	231	0.0%	114 of 190	-100%
217	Paradise Valley	D	205	0.0%	115 of 190	-100%
218	Rosalind	D	192	0.0%	116 of 190	-100%
219	Spring Lake	D	772	0.0%	117 of 190	-100%
220	Veteran	D	230	0.0%	118 of 190	-100%
221	Warburg	D	684	0.0%	119 of 190	-100%
222	Waskatenau	D	324	0.0%	120 of 190	-100%
223	Youngstown	D	179	0.0%	121 of 190	-100%
224	Argentia Beach	V	36	0.0%	122 of 190	-100%
225	Betula Beach	V	25	0.0%	123 of 190	-100%
226	Birch Cove	V	68	0.0%	124 of 190	-100%
227	Birchcliff	V	301	0.0%	125 of 190	-100%
228	Bondiss	V	126	0.0%	126 of 190	-100%
229	Bonnyville Beach	V	70	0.0%	127 of 190	-100%
230	Burnstick Lake	V	29	0.0%	128 of 190	-100%
231	Castle Island	V	17	0.0%	129 of 190	-100%
232	Crystal Springs	V	82	0.0%	130 of 190	-100%
233	Ghost Lake	V	75	0.0%	131 of 190	-100%
234	Golden Days	V	257	0.0%	132 of 190	-100%
235	Grandview	V	181	0.0%	133 of 190	-100%
236	Gull Lake	V	274	0.0%	134 of 190	-100%
237	Half Moon Bay	V	68	0.0%	135 of 190	-100%
238	Horseshoe Bay	V	82	0.0%	136 of 190	-100%
239	Island Lake	V	164	0.0%	137 of 190	-100%
240	Island Lake South	V	83	0.0%	138 of 190	-100%
241	Itaska Beach	V	29	0.0%	139 of 190	-100%
242	Jarvis Bay	V	224	0.0%	140 of 190	-100%
243	Kapasiwin	V	34	0.0%	141 of 190	-100%
244	Lakeview	V	26	0.0%	142 of 190	-100%
245	Larkspur	V	53	0.0%	143 of 190	-100%
246	Mewatha Beach	V	96	0.0%	144 of 190	-100%
247	Norglenwold	V	339	0.0%	145 of 190	-100%
248	Norris Beach	V	71	0.0%	146 of 190	-100%
249	Parkland Beach	V	175	0.0%	147 of 190	-100%
250	Pelican Narrows	V	162	0.0%	148 of 190	-100%
251	Point Alison	V	19	0.0%	149 of 190	-100%
252	Poplar Bay	V	96	0.0%	150 of 190	-100%
253	Ross Haven	V	120	0.0%	151 of 190	-100%
254	Sandy Beach	V	291	0.0%	152 of 190	-100%
255	Silver Beach	V	54	0.0%	153 of 190	-100%
256	Silver Sands	V	244	0.0%	154 of 190	-100%
257	South Baptiste	V	85	0.0%	155 of 190	-100%
258	South View	V	74	0.0%	156 of 190	-100%
259	Sundance Beach	V	44	0.0%	157 of 190	-100%
260	Sunrise Beach	V	166	0.0%	158 of 190	-100%
261	Sunset Beach	V	64	0.0%	159 of 190	-100%
262	Sunset Point	V	270	0.0%	160 of 190	-100%
263	Val Quentin	V	169	0.0%	161 of 190	-100%
264	Waiparous	V	65	0.0%	162 of 190	-100%
265	West Baptiste	V	48	0.0%	163 of 190	-100%
266	West Cove	V	307	0.0%	164 of 190	-100%
267	Whispering Hills	V	136	0.0%	165 of 190	-100%
268	Yellowstone	V	117	0.0%	166 of 190	-100%
269	I.d. No. 04 (Waterton)	D	550	0.0%	167 of 190	-100%
270	I.d. No. 09 (Banff)	D	1,004	0.0%	168 of 190	-100%
271	I.d. No. 24 (Wood Buffalo)	D	706	0.0%	169 of 190	-100%
272	Starland County	D	1,820	0.0%	83 of 105	-103%
273	Cremona	D	486	0.1%	170 of 190	-102%
274	Sunbreaker Cove	V	137	0.1%	171 of 190	-104%
275	Medicine Hat	D	68,714	0.2%	16 of 22	-116%
276	Edmonton	D	1,238,295	0.2%	8 of 10	-129%
277	Mannville	D	829	0.2%	172 of 190	-106%
278	Bighorn No. 8, M.d. of	D	1,598	0.2%	85 of 105	-125%
279	Grimshaw	T	2,799	0.2%	86 of 105	-125%
280	Smoky Lake	T	1,159	0.2%	173 of 190	-106%
281	Vilna	D	269	0.2%	174 of 190	-106%
282	Smoky River No. 130, M.d. of	D	1,895	0.3%	87 of 105	-131%
283	Mackenzie County	D	14,488	0.3%	75 of 90	-122%
284	Rocky View County	D	50,260	0.3%	17 of 22	-127%
285	Warner	D	400	0.5%	176 of 190	-115%
286	Athabasca	T	2,887	0.7%	88 of 105	-184%
287	Cold Lake	D	17,815	0.8%	35 of 48	-169%
288	Camrose	D	20,801	0.8%	36 of 48	-172%
289	Vulcan	T	1,922	0.8%	89 of 105	-191%
290	Boyle	D	859	0.8%	179 of 190	-123%
291	Cochrane	T	39,397	0.9%	37 of 48	-181%
292	Delburne	D	949	0.9%	180 of 190	-126%
293	White Sands	V	183	1.0%	182 of 190	-127%
294	Bow Island	T	2,310	1.0%	91 of 105	-214%
295	Sedgewick	T	793	1.0%	183 of 190	-128%
296	Stettler No. 6, County of	D	5,666	1.4%	79 of 90	-204%
297	Cardston County	D	4,948	1.5%	93 of 105	-273%
298	St. Albert	D	74,730	1.7%	21 of 22	-248%
299	Lloydminster	D	21,295	1.7%	42 of 48	-261%
300	Opportunity No. 17, M.d. of	D	3,382	2.0%	95 of 105	-326%
301	Rockyford	D	421	2.4%	186 of 190	-168%
302	Lamont	T	1,856	2.4%	98 of 105	-378%
303	Berwyn	D	599	2.7%	187 of 190	-176%
304	Wetaskiwin No. 10, County of	D	11,217	2.8%	83 of 90	-314%
305	Ponoka	T	8,212	2.9%	84 of 90	-323%
306	Spruce Grove	D	44,575	3.1%	47 of 48	-386%
307	Innisfail	T	8,736	3.5%	86 of 90	-367%
308	Coronation	T	885	3.7%	188 of 190	-203%
309	Crowsnest Pass	D	6,011	5.1%	88 of 90	-488%
310	Gibbons	T	3,352	5.7%	101 of 105	-746%
311	Lac la Biche County	D	8,580	11.2%	90 of 90	-962%
312	Nakamun Park	V	80	14.3%	189 of 190	-499%

Municipalities with Incomplete Data

The following 2 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
Hussar	D	Insufficient historical data points