LET'S TALK TAXES 2025!
In April 2024, City Council approved an 8.9 percent increase in municipal taxes, the highest increase in more than a decade, and everyone – businesses, owners, City Councillors, and Administration alike, seemed disappointed. Nonetheless, headlines in August 2024 indicate that we could see an 8.8 to 13 per cent increase in 2025 as the city faces a current $88 million shortfall.
So, what’s going on and can we do? Budget cuts, getting back to core services, leveraging dollars from other governments, and other revenue streams are being discussed as strategies to mitigate another tax increase.
BOMA Edmonton and NAIOP Edmonton are pleased to present a session for building owners and others interested in digging deeper into taxation and assessment in Edmonton in 2025. First, an animated group of panelists will delve into what’s working, what isn’t working, and how to move forward. Second, all luncheon attendees are invited to have their say on what they think the City should cut and prioritize in the upcoming budget.
You’ll leave better informed and with a sense of what’s being done and can be done to improve balance, fairness, and transparency when it comes to our tax bills as building owners and tenants. You’ll also help shape our feedback to the City in this upcoming budget cycle.
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LET'S TALK TAXES 2025! - SURVEY
As part of our organizations’ mandates to represent Edmonton’s business community, we’re gathering feedback on the City of Edmonton’s priorities. Your input will help us better understand the needs and concerns of local businesses regarding taxation, municipal services, and future investments. By participating in this survey, you’ll play a vital role in shaping our advocacy efforts and ensuring that your priorities are communicated to city leaders.
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AGENDA
Doors Open: 11:00am
Panel: 11:30am to 1:30pm
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PANEL
Lisa Baroldi, President & Chief Executive Officer, BOMA Edmonton
Lisa Baroldi is an award-winning business and community leader. She is currently President and CEO of Building Owners and Managers Association Edmonton or BOMA Edmonton. Prior to joining BOMA Edmonton, Lisa was a senior advisor to the Canada-UAE Business Council in Toronto and Dubai, and executive director of an economic development authority in Northern Alberta. Other previous roles include associate editor of Diplomat & International Magazine in Ottawa and CEO of Progress Unlimited, a global consulting firm that has been involved in many ground-breaking initiatives such as Canada’s first New in Town Indigenous Welcome Service and Kahkiyaw, which is the first collaborative service delivery for urban Indigenous children, youth and families in Alberta. Through Progress, Lisa has provided economic, community, and business development services since 2007 in Canada, France, Sierra Leone, and the United Arab Emirates. She has obtained $100 million dollars for projects since 2011, and has brought attention to and action on various issues.
In 2009, Lisa co-founded the national intercity exchange, Designing Downtown, which she conceived of while marketing commercial real estate in Western Canada, and continues to be passionate about city building. Lisa holds a master’s degree from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, and degrees from L’institute d’études politques de Lyon and the University of Alberta, where she was awarded the Dr John MacDonald Medal in Arts for overall superior academic achievement in the BA Honours Program. In 2015, Lisa was selected for the prestigious Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. In 2012/13, she was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 under 40, Top 100 Women in Business, and Alberta Venture Magazine’s Ten Rising Stars.
Chris Buchanan, Director, Property Tax, Altus Group
With twenty years of Assessment and Taxation experience, Chris leads Altus Group’s Office and Industrial portfolios in the greater Edmonton Area. Chris annually reviews over $7 billion in property assessment, using his extensive knowledge and experience in tax assessment policy to reduce client’s property assessments and their resulting tax liabilities. His innovative strategies and insights have consistently delivered substantial financial benefits to his clients, establishing him as a leading expert in the field.
Tim Cartmell, City Councillor for Edmonton's Ward pihêsiwin
Ward pihêsiwin Councillor Tim Cartmell was first elected to Edmonton City Council in 2017.
Tim is a Professional Engineer and small business owner. He specializes in the structural design and management of building projects, including past projects like the Expo Centre for Northlands and three seniors lodges for the Greater Edmonton Foundation. Prior to serving in public office, Tim also worked for the Government of Alberta's Treasury Board Ministry.
During Tim’s first term as Councillor, he advocated for investments in Southwest Edmonton’s road network. These include the Terwillegar Drive Expansion, Rabbit Hill Road twinning, Anthony Hendy widening and countless other road projects in new southern neighbourhoods.
Giving back to the community has always been very important to Tim. He has more than three decades of community volunteer experience, including various community league roles, coaching minor hockey, and various roles on discipline and practice standards committees with his professional association, APEGA.
In 2013, he received the APEGA Summit Award for Community Service and in 2014, he received the Engineers Canada Meritorious Service Award.
Tim and his wife, Cathy, were born and raised in Edmonton and live in south Edmonton. Tim and Cathy have three children: Matthew, Riana and Justin.
Tim currently serves as: Chair of Utility Committee; Member of Executive Committee; Member of City Manager Recruitment Committee; Mayor Sohi’s alternate for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board - Committee of the Whole and Governance and HR Committee; Member of Growth Plan Five-Year Interim Review Task Force - EMRB; Member of the Alberta Municipalities Infrastructure Committee; Member of the Metropolitan Region Servicing Standing Committee; Member of the Board of Directors for the Fort Edmonton Park Management Company; City of Edmonton’s Alternate Shareholder Representative for Edmonton Global; Advisor to the Sport Edmonton Council Board of Directors; and Member of the Board of Directors for Do North Events/World Triathlon Series.
Tim has also supported the following Council Initiatives: Live Active for health and recreation, Active Transportation, and the Winter City strategy for realizing all the benefits of our beautiful northern city.
Anand Pye, Chief Executive Officer, NAIOP Edmonton
Anand Pye is the Chief Executive Officer of NAIOP, Edmonton’s commercial real estate development association.
There Anand leads the organization’s outreach and advocacy, connecting developers with other thought leaders locally and around Canada. He also oversees NAIOP’s provincially certified education program, mentorship, and industry events.
Outside of NAIOP, Anand is a Top 40 Under 40 Alumni (2020) who helped to found Grindstone Theatre and more recently Edmonton Mural Festival.
Through these roles Anand has worked with many great community leaders, and gained a deep understanding of how motivated communities can come together to tackle big issues.
Bronwyn Scrivens, Vice President, Industrial Services, JLL
Bronwyn is a Vice President of Industrial Services at JLL with over 10 years of commercial and real estate experience specializing in acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing of industrial assets around the greater Edmonton region and province of Alberta. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a major in commercial real estate studies.
Bronwyn prides herself on her strong industry involvement; she sits on the Board of Directors and is the Education Chair with NAIOP, she is the Vice President for the SIOR Western Canadian Chapter, and is the incoming Canadian Regional Director for SIOR. Through this industry involvement and her thought leadership, she has been the recipient of numerous industry and business awards.
Bronwyn spends her spare time writing a monthly commercial real estate blog, playing hockey, golfing and traveling the world whenever possible.
Anton Szabo, Director, Policy And Data Quality, Assessment And Taxation, City of Edmonton
Anton Szabo holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree from the University of Alberta in Political Science and completed work in a Masters of Advanced International Studies Program from the University of Vienna. He began his career as an Edmonton City Council political staffer and transitioned to a member of Edmonton’s Administration in 2011. Since that time, he has held a variety of positions with both Assessment and Taxation as well as Intergovernmental Affairs. He currently holds the position of the Director of Policy and Data Quality within the City of Edmonton’s Assessment and Taxation Branch.
This event is eligible for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Points. One point per hour will be awarded.
*Disclaimer
By registering for this event, you acknowledge that the information you provide is accurate and absolve BOMA Edmonton of any liability for inaccuracies. Your registration also implies consent to be contacted by BOMA Edmonton. Furthermore, the ideas and views expressed by any speakers are their own and are not endorsed by BOMA Edmonton.
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