Town of Ponoka Council Highlights - May 27, 2025
These Council highlights are intended to provide a brief overview of the most significant decisions made during the Council meeting.
To access more information about the items listed below and to view full Council meeting agendas, minutes and meeting schedules, please click here.
4.1 Presentations – Ponoka RCMP
The Ponoka RCMP presented their quarterly Community Policing Report covering the period from January 1 to March 31, 2025. The report includes statistics and information about crime, traffic safety and community engagement in the Town of Ponoka.
4.2 Presentations – Downtown
A local business owner shared concerns about downtown Ponoka and improvements that could be made to revitalize the downtown and make it more welcoming for visitors and businesses.
8.3 Proposed Dates for 2026 Budget Deliberations
Council approved November 26 to 28, 2025 as the scheduled dates for 2026 Budget Deliberations. This timeline allows for an additional month of orientation for the newly elected Town Council following the October 20 election before budget deliberations begin.
Three in-person Coffee with Council events are being planned for June, July and August as part of the citizen engagement plans for the 2026 Budget.
A Citizen Input Survey will also be posted on the LetsTalkPonoka.ca website as part of the online Budget Consultation Open House. The survey will be available to all Ponoka citizens to gather their input and to identify priorities they would like Council to consider as it deliberates the 2026 Town Budget. Paper copies of the survey will also be available at Town facilities.
8.4 Request for Proclamation – Boys and Girls Club Day
Council passed a motion proclaiming June 6, 2025 as Boys and Girls Club (BGC) Day in the Town of Ponoka. In recognition of BGC Club Day, the lights on the Ponoka Civic Centre will be turned green on June 6.
The request from the BGC Wolf Creek highlighted that BGC Clubs have been in operation across the country for 125 years. The BGC Wolf Creek offers an array of programs and services designed to equip youth in our community with the tools to succeed.
8.5 June is Recreation and Parks Month
Council passed a motion proclaiming June as Recreation and Parks Month in the Town of Ponoka. Municipalities across Canada proclaim June as Recreation and Parks Month to raise awareness about the importance of parks and recreation in building healthy, active and connected communities.
In Ponoka, the Town (along with community partners) will host major events in June, including the Spring Festival at Lions Centennial Park on June 13 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the new Disc Golf Course grand opening at Riverside Rotary Park on June 14 from Noon to 2 p.m.
The Town will also roll out a promotional campaign highlighting Ponoka’s many parks, trails, recreation facilities, events and programs for citizens to enjoy.
11.1 Correspondence Items – Letter to the Minister of Education – Provincial Education Tax
Council accepted for information a letter written by Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson to Alberta’s Minister of Education expressing concern about the 10.8 per cent increase in the Education Tax levied by the Province on Town of Ponoka ratepayers this year.
The Mayor noted that the increase seems to be a disproportionate burden on Ponoka ratepayers considering the increase is greater than that being charged to Edmonton or Red Deer taxpayers. He pointed out that while the Education Tax is supposed to based on growth and assessments, Ponoka’s growth for 2024 was 1.4 per cent and he doesn’t expect our community will see any new schools built in the near future.
He also noted that Town Council was forced to lower the 2025 municipal property tax increase to 1.25 per cent – down from the proposed 3.25 per cent increase that was initially approved by Council last fall in the Interim Budget. That means our community will be foregoing $180,000 that will instead be paid to the Education Tax, and the Town “will be forced to look for savings in our budget elsewhere, and levels of service will be affected.”
The Town is required to collect the provincial Education Tax as part of the property tax bill it sends annually to residents. The Education Tax that is collected is then sent directly to the provincial government. Annual property taxes also include a Senior Housing tax rate, which the municipality is required to collect on behalf of Rimoka Housing Foundation.
11.2 Correspondence Items – Letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs
Council accepted for information a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs confirming 2025 funding allocations from the provincial government through the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) as follows:
- 2025 LGFF Capital Allocation - $1.12 million
- 2025 LGFF Operating Allocation - $446,336
12.9 Information Item – 2024 Town of Ponoka Annual Report
Council accepted as information the 2024 Town of Ponoka Annual Report which provides the community with an overview of the progress and accomplishments of the Town in 2024. The Annual Report is available on the Town of Ponoka website at Town of Ponoka - Annual Report.
- Next Regular Council Meeting: Tuesday, June 10 at 6 p.m.
- Next Priorities and Initiatives Meeting: Tuesday, June 17 at 6 p.m.
- The public is welcome to attend all Council meetings. Meetings are held in Town Council Chambers on the third floor of the Ponoka Civic Centre (5604 50 Street).