Where Is the Money? Raising Questions About Property Tax Discrepancies in Edmonton

In recent weeks, I’ve been digging into Edmonton's property tax data. As part of my research for a previous blog post—where I broke down property tax contributions by ward—I came across a discrepancy that I couldn’t ignore. This article shares what I discovered, raises questions, and invites public discussion. I want to be very clear: this article does not make accusations or suggest wrongdoing by any specific individual or organization. Rather, it is an attempt to highlight a concerning irregularity in the numbers and advocate for transparency and accountability.

A Closer Look at the Numbers

I began assembling data on March 12, 2025, knowing it would take time. By March 28, I had completed a spreadsheet analyzing property tax assessments across the city. What I found was surprising: based on the assessments, it appeared that the City of Edmonton was collecting roughly $80 million more in property taxes than had been disclosed to Council.

That’s equivalent to a 3.5% tax increase beyond what was publicly stated.

Because it was late (around 1:00 AM), I decided to step away and revisit the numbers with fresh eyes in the morning. When I did, I realized the figures needed verification before I could move forward. I contacted a few trusted accountants and had one go through my data independently. They arrived at a similar conclusion: a discrepancy of approximately $76 million.

Opportunities for Disclosure

At that point, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. The City still had three key opportunities to disclose or explain the discrepancy:

1. Tax Rate Report

2. Assessment and Taxation Audit

3. Spring Supplemental Capital Budget (SCBA)

The Tax Rate report did show an over-collection—but not by the amount I had calculated. It seemed to fall within an acceptable margin of error, but it wasn’t a match.

The Assessment and Taxation Audit revealed something else: the number of tax accounts listed in the report was higher than the number listed on OpenData. This inconsistency added another layer of confusion. https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/budget-and-finances

Then, on May 14, as I was updating my previous blog post, I checked the City’s tax estimation tool again. The numbers had changed. After updating my spreadsheet to reflect the new data, I discovered the discrepancy had ballooned to more than $210 million—about a 9.1% increase above what had been publicly approved.

Waiting for Answers

I waited for the Spring SCBA report to be released, hoping it would clarify matters. It didn’t.

Now that the report is publicly available and the discrepancy has not been disclosed or corrected, I believe it’s time to ask an important question:

www.jasonbale.ca

Possible Explanations

Let’s explore two possible causes for this discrepancy: malice or incompetence.

1. Malice

It’s uncomfortable to consider, but we can’t rule it out. If this is a case of intentional over-collection, we might ask whether City leadership wanted to avoid public backlash during an election year. Perhaps it’s an effort to offset previous financial missteps. There’s also a historical precedent of mismanagement, which raises questions about oversight.

Let me be clear: I hope this isn’t the case. But in a healthy democracy, residents and candidates must consider all possibilities.

2. Incompetence

This may be the more benign—yet still deeply troubling—possibility. If the discrepancy is the result of a lack of oversight, incorrect data in OpenData, or errors in reporting, then we need to reevaluate the systems we trust to make major financial decisions.

For five consecutive years, Edmonton has been named the most open city in North America. But what’s the value of open data if the data is inaccurate or misleading?

Why It Matters

City Council relies on accurate financial data to make decisions about spending, infrastructure, and services. The public relies on transparency to hold officials accountable.

If the City is collecting $210 million more than budgeted, that’s money coming out of taxpayers’ pockets without justification. Worse still, it can lead to broken trust between residents and local government.

This discrepancy—whether by mistake or by design—affects real lives. Roads, schools, emergency services, and community projects are all tied to the City's financial planning. If residents feel the numbers can’t be trusted, it discourages civic engagement and participation in the democratic process.

A Campaign Built on Accountability

Some candidates this election cycle are proposing to reduce property taxes by 9.1%. If the data I’ve compiled is accurate, this wouldn’t require any service cuts. It would simply involve collecting only what has been approved by Council.

When residents hear about these discrepancies or see their taxes rising while services stagnate, they ask: What’s the point?

They hear soundbites like the Mayor saying, “We’re spending like drunken sailors,” and it reinforces the belief that things are broken. And when no one seems to be held accountable, many residents check out altogether.

But I believe we can fix this.

The Power of Public Demand

We don’t need to jump to conclusions or point fingers without facts. But we can demand that City officials explain the numbers. Transparency isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

So when an incumbent councillor, or a member of their campaign team, knocks on your door, ask them: Where is the money?

A Pledge to Serve with Integrity

On October 20, 2025, I’ll be seeking your support to represent Ward Karhiio. I’m not promising extravagant new projects or lofty dreams. What I am promising is a commitment to listen to residents, to analyze data critically, and to speak up when things don’t add up.

I don’t have a large campaign team or institutional support. I’m just one person, compiling spreadsheets after work and knocking on doors in the evenings. But I’m doing the work—because no one else is.

I’m not here to play politics. I’m here because I believe Ward Karhiio residents deserve better. I hope you’ll take a look at my record, talk to your neighbors, and consider what kind of leadership you want.

A vote for the status quo is a vote to keep things as they are. A vote for a party-backed candidate is a vote for someone who hasn’t asked these questions.

A vote for me is a vote for accountability, transparency, and a better future for our community.

Final Thoughts

We all want a city we can be proud of—one that works for everyone. That starts with honesty, good governance, and respectful dialogue.

I encourage anyone reading this to explore the numbers for yourself. I’ve included my methodology at the end of this article so that others can replicate and verify the data.

Let’s work together to build a City Hall that we can trust.

— Jason Bale

Disclaimer: This article is intended as general commentary and is based on publicly available data. All findings and conclusions are open to interpretation and verification. No claims of wrongdoing are being made against any individual or organization.