FAQ

What's the difference between the City's Operating Budget and the City's Capital Budget?
What is the annual operating budget for the City of Lethbridge?
How is the Operating Budget funded?
How often does the City of Lethbridge set the operating budget?

    What's the difference between the City's Operating Budget and the City's Capital Budget?

    The Capital Budget identifies required capital projects and provides a planning schedule as well as a financing plan. It includes one-time construction costs for things such as new roads, recreation facilities, new parks, new buildings or building renovations, and utility projects. 

    The Operating Budget includes ongoing operating costs for services or programs such as police, fire, electric, parks operations, public transit, water & sewer, road maintenance, snow removal, libraries, arenas and swimming pools. From November 19-24, 2018, City Council members will meet as Finance Committee to deliberate the 2019-2022 Operating Budget.

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    What is the annual operating budget for the City of Lethbridge?

    The operating budget for 2018 is $379 million.
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    How is the Operating Budget funded?

    The operating budget has two main areas which have different funding sources: 
    1. The General Fund is funded from property taxes, user fees, grants & other general revenues. It includes ongoing operating costs for services or programs such as police, fire, parks operations, public transit, road maintenance, snow removal, libraries, arenas and swimming pools. 
    2. The Utility Fund is funded by utility rates. It includes ongoing operating costs for electric, water, sewer, landfill, garbage collection and recycling.
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    How often does the City of Lethbridge set the operating budget?

    We practice multi-year budgeting, which means that every four years, City Council deliberates and approves a new four-year operating budget. 
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