MLA de Jonge addresses education property tax increase
By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Chestermere Strathmore MLA Chantelle de Jonge spoke regarding the education property tax requisition announced by the province in Alberta’s 2025 budget.
De Jonge explained the purpose of the requisition is to fund educational operating expenses throughout the province. This includes instructional costs such as teachers’ salaries, and other classroom resources.
“Across the province, $1.1 billion over the next three years will go to hire additional teachers and classroom support staff and I know from talking with residents in Strathmore, this is a big priority to see more teachers and (educational assistants) in classrooms,” she said. “An additional $1.6 billion is going to support specialized learning needs and groups of students that may require additional support. Again, I know this is a huge priority for parents across the province, so their children are supported in schools if they do have those specialized learning needs.”
According to de Jonge, every dollar of the education property tax will be reinvested into education in Strathmore to support students and staff.
The education property tax is charged to a property owner as a percentage of the value of a home. She explained this year the tax is $2.72 for every thousand dollars of a property’s total assessment value.
De Jonge said this is increased from $2.56 for every thousand dollars of value which was exhibited last year, being an increase of $0.16 per thousand dollars.
This equation is evaluated differently in each municipality across the province depending on where home value has increased.
“As schools in Strathmore are seeing an increase in enrollment, they are seeing those enrollment pressures like elsewhere in the province and this funding is going to support students in Strathmore, and it is going to address the educational priorities that Albertans have,” said de Jonge. “The increase is to provide the public education system with a stable and sustainable source of funding that meets the needs of increased student enrollment. Historically, the education property tax, it has funded one third of operating education spending, but that has fallen behind in recent years.”
De Jonge committed that every single dollar of the education property tax requisition from Strathmore will be reinvested locally to support increased growth. This will include assisting to fund the construction of the new Westmount School.
Golden Hills School Division was requested for comment regarding the education property tax, but did not respond prior to the publication of this article.