A handful of budgets were presented to Stettler Town council during their latest meeting.
The Stettler Regional Board of Trade, Parkland Regional Library, Heartland Youth Centre & Heartland Beautification Committee’s 2026 budgets were on the agenda for the Nov. 18 meeting.
These budgets will now make up part of the interim operating budget, which will be brought to council on Dec. 9.
The interim budget provides municipal funding into the new year, until operating budgets are approved in the spring.
Stettler Regional Board of Trade 2026 Budget
A delegation from the Stettler Regional Board of Trade made a presentation on their budget for 2026 to Stettler Town Council.
The Board of Trade is reporting a slight decrease in their budget from 2025, with expenses down to $542,621 from $546,671 in 2025.
Projected revenues are listed as $191,300 for 2026 for the Town run organization which provides tourism, business & economic development support.
Executive Director Byron Geddes noted that 2025 was a challenging year for their organization as they navigated the impact of tariffs, the postal strike & organizing multiple election forums.
He also noted a 13% increase in the use of Heart of Alberta dollars over the past year, an initiative designed to get people to shop locally.
The Board takes part in a number of community initiatives such as organizing the annual trade show & spring & fall employment fairs.
They’ve also been involved with organizing local events such as Stettlerfest & the Big Jack Classic to initiatives such as doctor attraction & healthcare skills day.
Parkland Regional Library 2026 Budget
The Town of Stettler was asked to approve a small increase to the Parkland Regional Library System as part of the 2026 operating budget.
The recommendation proposed an increase to the per-capita rate to $9.99 for 2026.
That brings Stettler’s total contribution to $56,893, up from $55,868 in 2025, or a 1.8 percent increase.
The regional system across 42 communities provides member libraries with shared services including IT support & electronic & inter-library loans.
The per-capita requisition formula is based on the 2021 census population.
Parkland’s past per-capita rates have ranged from $8.25 in 2019 to $9.81 in 2025.
The yearly increases have led to the Town of Stettler to sponsor a resolution with the City of Calgary calling for sustainable library funding from the province.
Budget documents from Parkland Regional Library note that provincial grants cover about 41% of their income.
Council passed a motion to fund the Parkland Regional Library at a per-capita rate of $9.99 for 2026.
Heartland Youth Centre 2026 Budget
A delegation from the HYC made a presentation on their 2026 budget request for $55,000 from the town.
The Town has funded the HYC in the amount of $50,000 over the past seven years, with a letter from the centre citing increased utility, insurance & food costs as the reason for the increase.
The organization is funded through reserves, grants, fundraising & assistance from the municipal government.
It was announced that Executive Director WInnie Bisset will be retiring in the new year after 36 years with the organization.
The HYC serves almost 400 kids with events & fundraisers such as the highway clean-up, Awesome Auction & Soapbox Derby each year.
It was noted the youth centre stepped up during the teachers strike to provide care to 55 new kids from 25 families who were left in a bind to find childcare.
The HYC is always looking for volunteers to provide youth & teen mentorship, particularly for males.
Council passed a motion to fund the HYC in the amount of $50,000, & requested a full financial picture & review of grants obtained over the past five years be brought to the Dec. 2 council meeting.
Heartland Beautification Committee 2026 Budget
The Heartland Beautification Committee has submitted its 2026 budget request to town council, outlining $22,200 in planned spending.
The committee says the funding will support green spaces, environmental work & community heritage projects
The group also plans to continue public outreach through events & community education.
The largest share of the budget is directed toward green space maintenance. The committee lists $5,000 for community gardens upkeep, $3,000 for orchard upkeep & $4,700 for orchard staffing.
Environmental action programs are slated for $5,000, while $2,000 was requested for heritage conservation.
An additional $1,000 is earmarked for general community appearance, with another $1,500 is set aside for meetings & miscellaneous costs.
The Heartland Beautification Committee’s budget for 2026 had no increases from the year prior.
Council moved that $22,200 be funded through the upcoming budget to beautify green spaces around Stettler.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
