RMWB Council Budget meeting Feb 3, 2026
FORT McMURRAY — The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo kicked off its 2026 budget deliberations Tuesday with council unanimously approving full funding requests for a range of community recreation organizations.
The meeting marked the first full budget discussion since October’s municipal election, which brought several new faces to council alongside returning members from pervious councils, notably Mike Allen, Don Scott, and Lance Bussiers. The tone throughout the nearly eight-hour session was measured and orderly, with debate proceeding smoothly and without the need for mayoral intervention from a confident and comfortable Mayor Sandy Bowman.
Newly elected Coun. Luana Bussiers emerged as one of the more active voices during the discussion, frequently asking detailed questions about the specifics of grant applications and how municipal dollars would be spent. Her brother, Coun. Lance Bussiers, also pressed administrators and applicants on revenue-related details, with both councillors demonstrating close familiarity with their briefing materials and an emphasis on fiscal oversight.
Community groups including the Fort McMurray Minor Baseball Association, the YMCA and Vista Ridge all received the full amounts they requested, with every funding motion passing unanimously.
The dynamic contrasted with that of the previous council, where debates over grants were often more contentious. While most councillors limited direct questioning of applicants, the discussion maintained a steady pace and collegial tone.
One unexpected moment came when Coun. Don Scott questioned whether the funding request from Vista Ridge was sufficient, saying he wanted to ensure the organization was not being underfunded in a way that could limit its ability to deliver recreational services or improve programming for residents.
After more than four hours of debate on grant requests, council wrapped up the session with full support for all recreation organizations before it.
Administratively, the municipality is framing this year’s budget around fiscal responsibility and long-term stability. Key focus areas include balancing operational and capital revenues, improving asset management, advancing long-term strategic capital planning, exploring revenue sources beyond property taxes and reviewing treasury strategies to boost investment income.
The municipality expects total tax revenue of $506 million for the year, unchanged from the 2025 budget. An additional $13 million is projected from other revenue streams, contributing to a total operating and capital budget of $661 million.
Budget discussions continue with capital items scheduled to come before council on Feb. 4.
Comments