Budget

The Town's Finance Department leads the budget development process, and is also responsible for monitoring and managing the Town's financial health. Provincial legislation requires us to have a balanced budget. This means money coming in (revenue) equals money going out (expenses). The balanced budget needs to be approved by Council annually.

Town of Olds 2026 Operating and Capital Budgets Approved

The 2026 Municipal Operating and Capital Budgets were approved December 8, 2025 in the amounts of $37.3M and $2.88 respectively. View our Press Release for more details. 

View the Minutes where Council discussed the 2026 Budget

Regular Council Meeting - November 24, 2025

Special Council Meeting (2026 Capital Budget) - November 25, 2025

Special Council Meeting (2026 Capital Budget) - November 26, 2025

Committee of The Whole Meeting - December 1, 2025

Regular Council Meeting - December 8, 2025

2026 Operating Budget Presentations

Read the Budget Presentations that were given to Council:

• 2026 Operating Budget Presentation (November 24, 2025)
• 2026 Operating and Capital Budget (December 1, 2025)
• 2026 Budget Presentation (December 8, 2025)

Visit the Town of Olds YouTube Channel to watch the presentations:

• 2026 Operating Budget Presentation (November 24, 2025)
• 2026 Operating and Capital Budget (December 1, 2025)
• 2026 Budget Presentation (December 8, 2025)

2025 Budget Survey Results (for 2026)

Thank you to everyone who filled out the 2025 Budget Survey! The 2026 Budget Survey (taken 2025) was conducted from June 16 to July 17, 2025 and presented to Council at the October 6, 2025 Town Council Meeting. Review the results.

Annual Budget Process

Each year as part of the budget process Council reviews all of the programs and services the Town provides. Council’s primary objective is to find long-term, sustainable solutions to ongoing budget challenges and ensure municipal services and programs are provided in the most efficient and effective manner to best meet the needs of the community. The review focuses more on setting priorities, exploring trade-offs (services and programs) to reduce the cost of delivery while maintaining or improving services and service levels. The wants and needs of the community are also weighed into this decision to see what is possible to do within the resources available.

The Town of Olds Budgets Are Broken Into Two Main Components:

• Operating: The operating budget is all of the day-to-day activities needed to provide services to the community. This includes things like salaries, wages and benefits, goods and supplies, fuel, and insurance. 
• Capital: Town infrastructure is funded through the Capital Budget. The bulk of that funding goes to maintaining and rehabilitating existing infrastructure. As funding allows, the Town continues to fund growth, building new infrastructure and investing in the future.

Operating Budgets

• 2026 Operating Budget - Approved December 8, 2025
• 2025 Operating Budget - Approved April 14, 2025
• 2024 Operating Budget - Approved April 8, 2024
• 2023 Operating Budget - Approved April 11, 2023
• 2022 Operating Budget - Approved April 11, 2022
• 2022 Interim Operating Budget - Approved December 13, 2021
• 2021-2023 Financial Plan

Capital Budgets

• 2026 Capital Budget - Approved December 8, 2025
• 2025 Capital Budget - Approved April 14, 2025
• 2024 Capital Budget - Approved April 8, 2024
• 2023 Capital Budget - Spring Budget Adjustments approved April 11, 2023
• 2022 Capital Plan - Approved July 11, 2022
• 2022-2031 Long Term Capital Plan

Annual Budget Survey & Engagements

View our current and previous budget survey engagements here.