Council Highlights November 10, 2025

Council received presentations about the 2025-2026 City Budget and the Energy Production and Distribution Budget. These presentations were designed to provide Council with an understanding of

• the budget framework,
• the key components that have been included in the 2026 approved budget,
• additional insights into the City's financial position,
• as well as an overview of the rate based energy production business units.

The intention of these presentations is to give Council the background and context needed to make informed decisions during the upcoming meetings related to the 2026 budget updates.

Municipal Budget presentation

Manager of Corporate Planning and Performance, Jaret Dickie provided an introductory presentation on the municipal budget. The presentation outlined the City’s municipal budget framework, summarizing the structure of the budget, revenue sources, financial reserves and targets, and future financial obligations. Manager Dickie also spoke to the City’s comparatively low tax and utility rates, the current financial challenges, and the focus on financial sustainability.

Energy Production and Distribution presentation

Director of Energy Marketing and Analysis, Travis Tuchscherer, provided an introductory presentation on the City’s Energy Production and Distribution budget. He reviewed the City’s energy business, and the uniqueness of the City’s energy-based commodity business and the associated volatility. He described the City’s electric generation business, its operational philosophy (essentially to operate as a business), the Electric Utilities Act Exemption, how power is produced and more. He also reviewed the City’s natural gas production business and the Natural Gas Well Abandonment and Reclamation Obligation (ARO) Program.

Topic resources

To review the City's 2025 - 2026 Budget, visit medicinehat.ca/budget
To see how the 2025-2026 budget was developed, view the project page on Shape Your City.