Each year, the Town of Drumheller’s Administration thoroughly reviews service fees across various departments to ensure that the quality and standards residents expect are maintained without additional impact to the property tax.  This year, Administration has introduced non-resident fees to lessen the burden on our local taxpayers for services.

The Town’s Chief Financial Officer, Victoria Chan notes “that while some fees will see adjustments, many will remain unchanged as the Town strives to keep its services accessible. In addition, new services will be added to the fee schedule to provide all users, including our residents with a comprehensive understanding of various recreational offerings.”

“We as Council often hear from residents ‘why the increase?’,” begins Mayor Heather Colberg, “Service input costs have continued to rise, year over year, and we need to balance these costs with the current inflation rate in various service areas, We asked administration to review areas such as fire, recreation, facility use and others while we continually monitor operations of each department to find ways to be more efficient”

Key Additions to the Fee Schedule 

• New Membership Models: We are excited to introduce a “resident and non-resident” facility membership model, including free parking privileges for non-resident members. Residents will pay less for their memberships than non-residents and continue to enjoy free parking privileges with resident permits
• New Booking Facilities: The Badlands Community Facility (BCF) will add various booking options for different facilities, such as parking lots, park, etc.
• Fire Protection Charges: Updates have been made to fire protection services, enhancing our commitment to community safety. These changes were adopted in the Fire Bylaw

Notably, the Memorial Bench Program will be suspended and unavailable in 2025. This program is under review, and in 2025, the public will have an opportunity to contribute to its redesign of a sustainable and cost-effective way to remember loved ones.

Feedback is encouraged as the organization aims to improve its services and appreciates the community's understanding and support. The changes to some services are intended as a cost-neutral strategy to recover some overhead, labour, and administrative costs while alleviating pressure on property taxes and maintaining high-quality services.

To review the fee schedule, please click here.